Movie Review: High School High Starring Jon Lovitz
Jon Lovitz was one of my favorite stars of Saturday Night Live during what I consider to be the second best era of the show. He played characters like Tommy Flanagan (the pathological liar), Mephistopheles (wearing a silly devil's outfit), Master Thespian, Hanukkah Harry and other funny characters.
In 1996, Jon starred in a comedy called High School High. He plays the son of the head master of a prestigious school. Nobody respects him there, because they think his dad has given him his opportunities. He really wants to teach kids, and he's an idealist.
He takes a job at a lousy high school called Marion Barry High. It has a terrible graduation rate and is prone to violence and drug abuse. He's gonna change that, and he is so naive in how he goes about it. He really cares about these students, and through a few funny moments, he wins their respect.
He also has a girlfriend, who is his co-worker, played by Tia Carrere. Unbeknownst to him, the principle of the school, played by Louise Fletcher, is running illegal drugs through the school. She doesn't like him from the start and conspires to sabotage an important test for the students. He had worked very hard to prepare them for it.
I don't want to give away all of the plot, but I thought it was a funny movie. What I like about Jon's character in this movie is how hopeful he is. He just believes everything is gonna be okay and always tries. He also believes in the best in people. He is told the students are a lost cause, and he doesn't believe that at all.
Jon pops up in many movies, usually in supporting roles. He still manages to be memorable in many of them. I'd almost say this is his best one, but at the least, I'd put it in the top five. He was also good in City Slickers 2 and Trapped In Paradise. This is a comedy that has heart, and I love comedy that has heart.
Trailer for the movie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLf2PusBhFQ
