Never saw this 1987 comedy, but when it showed up on cable recently, we decided to take a look. Expecting the worse, but laughing while viewing it, we were sorry of not having seen it before. Director Phil Joanou's tale about a high school bully that is dead set into tormenting a frightened teen, had a lot to like and the right length to keep us interested in what the creators prepared from us.
Basically Jimmy Mitchell, the teenager at the center of the story, is a good kid. He's neither a nerd, nor is he a jock, he falls into an in between category. His encounter with the brutish Buddy Revell gets him in such a state that he spends the whole day trying to get out of a fight he didn't provoke, or wanted, to begin with. At the end, Jimmy realizes his fears, although founded, disappear, as he takes Buddy and becomes a figure of admiration by his high school peers, something that most of us would rather try to face.
The film works because of the nervous energy Casey Siemanszko brings to the role of Jimmy Mitchell. In the process of evading his adversary his Jimmy gets into all kinds of mischief. Richard Tyson, the stone-faced bully, does good work, while veterans Phillip Baker Hall and Jeffrey Tambor are seen in adult roles.
Basically Jimmy Mitchell, the teenager at the center of the story, is a good kid. He's neither a nerd, nor is he a jock, he falls into an in between category. His encounter with the brutish Buddy Revell gets him in such a state that he spends the whole day trying to get out of a fight he didn't provoke, or wanted, to begin with. At the end, Jimmy realizes his fears, although founded, disappear, as he takes Buddy and becomes a figure of admiration by his high school peers, something that most of us would rather try to face.
The film works because of the nervous energy Casey Siemanszko brings to the role of Jimmy Mitchell. In the process of evading his adversary his Jimmy gets into all kinds of mischief. Richard Tyson, the stone-faced bully, does good work, while veterans Phillip Baker Hall and Jeffrey Tambor are seen in adult roles.