High School

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High School is a stoner comedy about two teenagers, who decide to get their entire high school stoned on pot brownies in order to mess up the results of a drug test set up by the very strict headmaster (played by a nearly unrecognizable Michael Chiklis).

The problem with many stoner comedies is that if you are not a marijuana smoker yourself, it can be hard to find humour in these types of movies.  Indeed, High School is filled with much “pot propaganda” in the early half and I found myself groaning, rather than laughing.

However, the element that attracted me to the film was Adrien Brody, who is playing against type as a crazed foul-mouthed drug dealer named Psycho Ed.  I am happy to say that he is probably the funniest character in the film and I enjoyed the film much better when he was on screen.

Also, I found that I enjoyed the stoner comedy a bit more in the latter half, especially when it involved the adult characters (Colin Hanks as the Assistant Headmaster was particularly funny).

Overall, I’d give High School a pass.

 7 | FAIR  

Sean Patrick Kelly

Sean Patrick Kelly is a Toronto-based freelance film critic and blogger with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies from York University. Since founding his site in 2004, Sean has shared his passion for cinema through insightful reviews and commentary. His work has also been featured in prominent outlets, including Toronto Film Scene, HuffPost Canada, Screen Anarchy, ScreenRant, and Rue Morgue Magazine.