High School – (Toronto After Dark Festival) Review

Considering Toronto After Dark Film Festival has been attracting film buffs who appreciate the strange and hidden gems, it comes as no surprise that this stoner Sundance hit has blessed the festival with its marijuana-stenched presence.

A far cry from his role as the bully he played in Adventureland, Matt Bush plays Henry, an overachiever who has risked his social life to get straight A’s which has earned him the top spot for class valedictorian and the reassurance of getting enrolled at MIT in the fall. On the second last day of school, Henry reconnects with his pothead childhood buddy Travis (Sean Marquette) by smoking a joint for the first time in his life. Unfortunately, his mean “Mr. Weatherbee-like” principal (played by the almost unrecognizable Michael Chiklis) announces that there will be a drug test for all the students and those who do not pass will be expelled. (Talk about a “bad buzz.”)

With hardly any time left, Travis and Henry come up with a plan to steal THC crystals (the prominent ingredient in marijuana for the uninitiated) from a crazy pot dealer named “Psycho Ed” (played amazingly by Adrien Brody) and lace them in brownies for the school’s bake sale the next day. Trippy moments, Oscar-winning eye twitching and the growing need for munchies ensue.

Unlike Gregg Araki’s cult hit Smiley Face, High School is not just a film which can only be appreciated through Visine-covered eyes, for it is also a film for the easily nostalgic and for those who yearn for the days when John Hughes’ films ran the box office.

In a way, John Stalberg Jr’s debut film is a loving ode to the late director as it is a slightly demented version of Weird Science. (This reviewer’s all-time favourite movie.) Except instead of a sexy digital genie granting all the two boys wishes and fantasies within a PG-13 capacity, they have a psychotic corn-row wearing pot dealer granting them all their R-rated marijuana induced desires.

Stephen Susco, Erik Linthorst, and John Stalberg Jr. have written a far more intelligent script than the synopsis would lead viewers to believe and it shows as they were able to attract many strong character actors (a bunch are just a slew of great cameos) and an Oscar winning actor showcasing his eclectic taste in roles. In fact, the adult actors seem to have far more fun than the teenagers which is a hilarious sight to witness.

Shockingly enough, this film has no distributor which is a damn shame because this is a film that needs to be seen. So take a puff out of High School and pass the buzz around so others could enjoy the great trip as well!

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