High School (2012)

27% of critics liked it
(52 reviews)
51% of users liked it
(7,449 ratings)

The day after soon-to-be valedictorian Henry Burke (Matt Bush) takes a hit of the chronic for the first time, his school principal (Michael Chiklis) institutes a zero tolerance drug policy and administers a mandatory drug test for all students. Henry has two options: fail and lose his college… More The day after soon-to-be valedictorian Henry Burke (Matt Bush) takes a hit of the chronic for the first time, his school principal (Michael Chiklis) institutes a zero tolerance drug policy and administers a mandatory drug test for all students. Henry has two options: fail and lose his college scholarship, or team up with his stoner friend Breaux (Sean Marquette) to beat the system. They steal a high powered ganja from law student-turned-drug-dealer Psycho Ed (Adrien Brody) and spike the school's bake sale brownies, getting the whole school-faculty included-completely stoned out of their minds. But with the student body getting higher and higher with every brownie, and a pissed-off Psycho Ed on their tails for stealing his stash, they must find a way to keep their half-baked plan from going up in smoke. -- (C) Official Site

Play Trailer

Directed By: John Stalberg
Written By: Erik Linthorst, John Stalberg
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 1, 2012 Limited
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
A stoner comedy with a slightly musty vintage aroma.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
High School sucks harder than it blows.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
If it ever opens at a theater near you, remember: Just say no.
Sara Stewart, New York Post
I'm betting director John Stalberg Jr. also debated calling it "Bake Sale," revolving as it does around the mass-dosing of the student body with pot brownies.
Rafer Guzman, Newsday
The only good news for everyone involved: The worst moment in your career is surely behind you.
Tom Long, Detroit News
It's a bit crude, a lot illogical and you might have to be in a certain state of mind to enjoy a film this silly.
R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD
High School definitely won't be everyone's flavor of pot comedy, but it's certainly a fun trip and a clever spin on the genre.
Witney Seibold, CraveOnline
Surprisingly solid and funny... It's rare for a stoner comedy to have so much ambition.
Brent Simon, Shared Darkness
A hot mess whose sub-par direction mostly neutralizes its fantastic comedic premise. High School is a willfully 'stupid' stoner comedy, yes, but it also illustrates the gap between stupid done right and merely indulged too far.
Katey Rich, CinemaBlend.com
HIGH School isn't exactly Harold and Kumar-level genius, but it is worth the legal risk.
Jeff Bayer, The Scorecard Review
After an amusing start, this film seems to forget it's a pot comedy.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
While the movie is insistently unfunny, it's almost tragic how badly director John Stalberg Jr. fumbles the potential for a wacked-out farce, refusing to let loose with the boys as they scramble to maintain order.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
Starts with a viable premise, then veers off into something more mundane.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media
Low-key but amiable comedy, which borrows from many other movies, but still has its own spirit.
Jake Mulligan, Boston Phoenix
A pot comedy that won't reward even the most easily satisfied stoner.
Norman Wilner, NOW Toronto
One of the broadest, silliest (yet somehow still endearing) stoner comedies in a while, indulging the adult members of the cast with particular gusto.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
High School suffers from an increasingly stagnant, wheel-spinning midsection that triggers its transformation from passable comedy to interminable disaster.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Quickly grows old with no likable characters or anything else, much less genuine wit or humor, to engage.
Robert Levin, amNewYork
It's about a 'high' school, and once you've gotten that you've pretty much figured out this stoner comedy.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A stoner comedy that runs out of gas.

Read all 22 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

High School isn't funny considering it's a film about stoners. You can't smoke enough bud for this film to be funny. There are only two reasons to watch this film, Adrian Brody and Michael Chiklis. They are the only two who give out performances worth… More
High School isn't funny considering it's a film about stoners. You can't smoke enough bud for this film to be funny. There are only two reasons to watch this film, Adrian Brody and Michael Chiklis. They are the only two who give out performances worth watching. They both play over the top characters. They are the only reason I stuck with the film until the end. See it if you want. I wish I would have puff - puff - passed on this bad excuse for a stoner film.
Lorenzo v

"Future going up in smoke? Make sure it's some primo shit." A high school valedictorian who gets baked with the local stoner finds himself the subject of a drug test. The situation causes him to concoct an ambitious plan to get his entire graduating… More
"Future going up in smoke? Make sure it's some primo shit." A high school valedictorian who gets baked with the local stoner finds himself the subject of a drug test. The situation causes him to concoct an ambitious plan to get his entire graduating class to face the same fate, and fail. <center>REVIEW</center> It's not just the film's stoner antics, but the wonderfully natural dynamic between protagonists Henry and Travis (Matt Bush and Sean Marquette) that make this film such a delight! At it's heart, that's what "High School" seems to be about: two very different guys finding friends in each other in the midst of a sticky situation. Many equally memorable moments are offered thanks to the expert talents of Michael Chiklis and Adrien Brody. Chiklis (as pompous Dr. Leslie Gordon) exudes a deliciously-villainous disdain throughout the film. His inflated sense of righteousness, and Shakespearean presence, make him a truly love-to-hate personality. As Psycho Ed, Adrien Brody is just so damn fun to watch! One moment his crazed behavior had me in a laughing fit; next, his insane anger had me scared for Henry and Travis' safety. Dr. Gordon and Ed are uniquely accomplished performances that add so much to High School's entertainment value.
Directors C

[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img] I liked the premise of High School more than I enjoyed the actual product. I think the problem is simple, it's constantly wanting to combine gross out humour and old style stoner comedy but ultimately it… More
[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img] I liked the premise of High School more than I enjoyed the actual product. I think the problem is simple, it's constantly wanting to combine gross out humour and old style stoner comedy but ultimately it never proves that it's pure and energetic enough for that. The incredibly poor performances and it's staggeringly cliche ridden script doesn't do it any favours and so consequently the film never really manages to express much comedic charisma at all. On a positive note I found loads of good laughs in the first half of the film, it actually appears that when the screenwriters were penning it they actually tried to make a good comedy and not your average teen comedy flick. The unknown cast do an okay job of handling the characters but the flaw in all of it is that they're never actually funny. However when it comes to Adrien Brody's character, he scores comedic timing brilliantly, more than everyone else and he plays a role that only has a very limited contribution in the film. I just laughed so hard at him, he's a great actor, and there are a handful of good jokes at the side accompanying him but that's about all there is to it. There's little you can say about High School really, apart from, it isn't very funny.

Currently unavailable on Flixster

Also available on

UltraViolet Retailers

Buy $9.99

Other Retailers

Buy $14.99, Rent $3.99

Buy $14.99

Subscription Services

Not Available

Cast

Adrien Brody
as Psycho Ed
Matt Bush
as Henry Burke
Sean Marquette
as Breaux, Travis Breaux
Colin Hanks
as Brandon Ellis
Michael Chiklis
as Dr. Leslie Gordon, Principal Gordon
Adhir Kalyan
as Sebastian
Mykelti Williamson
as Paranoid
Luis Chavez
as Big Dave
Max Van Ville
as Little Dave
Brett Kelly (II)
as Martin
Joseph Julian Soria
as Ruben
George Back
as Malcolm
Alicia Sixtos
as Sharky Ovante
Andrew Wilson
as Hippie Dude
Camille Mana
as Dana
Erica Vittana Phillips
as Tameka
Julia Ling
as Charlyne
Cody Longo
as Chad
Mary Birdsong
as Mrs. Gordon
Yeardley Smith
as Mrs. Unger
Curtis Armstrong
as Mr. Armstrong
Arcadiy Golubovich
Rhys Coiro
as Vato
Terri Lynn Rodriguez
as Vivian
Robert Bailey Jr.
as Jeffrey
Nadine Crocker
as Emily Tooms
Kevin Yon
as Mr. Cavanaugh
Michael Eshaq
as Lead Terrorist
Kellie Rasmus
as Hippie Chick
Heather Kleisner
as Henry's Mom
Karl Murphy
as Band Teacher
Heather Regan
as Cheerleader Who Collids With Henry
Alex Biats
as Spelling Bee Rival
Clarence Smith
as Chess Opponent
Ron Ayers
as Stunned Lawn Blower
Carl Harry Carlson
as Donor #1
Randy Godwin
as Donor #2
Mike Evans
as Donor #3
Wallace Bridges
as African American Donor
Shirley Benyas
as Older Female Donor
Julia Ho
as News Anchor
Tom Ingram
as News Anchor #2
Barret Swatek
as Female News Desk Reporter
John Beard
as Male News Desk Reporter
Kerry Birmingham
as Female Reporter
Mike Woods
as Announcer
John O'Hurley
as Drug PSA Narrator
Wyatt Russell
as Drug PSA Stoned Teenager
David Herbst
as School Security Guard
Linda Boston
as Head Nurse
Rachel Quaintance
as Angry Parent #1
Peter Tocco
as Angry Parent #2
Billye Thompson
as Cop #1
Sammy Publes
as Cook #1
Rene Santana
as Cook #2
John Stalberg, Jr.
as Grandpa Frodo (Ed's Frog)

See more (56)

High School (2012)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

Lorenzo v

Directors C

Also available on

UltraViolet Retailers

Other Retailers

Subscription Services

Cast

Trailers & Clips

Watch offline from your computer

Flixster Desktop

Watch on your TV

Google TV

Microsoft XBOX 360

Sony Playstation 3

Watch on your tablet

iPad

Kindle Fire, Kindle Nook

Android tablets

Watch on your phone

iPhone, iPod Touch

Android phones

Are you sure?

Google TV Get the Flixster app , then sign in	Microsoft XBOX 360 Get the Vudu app, connect to UltraViolet. Rentals currently not available. Flixster app coming soon!
Sony Playstation 3 Get the Vudu app, connect to UltraViolet. Rentals currently not available. Flixster app coming soon!

iPad Get the Flixster app , then sign in	Kindle Fire, Kindle Nook Get the Flixster app , then sign in
Android tablets Get the Flixster app , then sign in