Combat High (1986 TV Movie)
4/10
Definitely a curiosity, if nothing more.
6 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Two high school kids (Keith Gordon and Wally Ward) have absolutely no discipline, no direction and apparently no ambition, so principal Dick Van Patten sends them to a military school where they basically do the same kinds of childish pranks, seemingly worse ones. Of interest there is the presence of a young George Clooney, very handsome certainly, yet playing the type of Mr. Perfect with an attitude, the character who normally comes off as the heavy. But Gordon and Ward are far too clownish in the first place and don't deserve anyone's respect, yet they're the leads. A montage of their pranks is funny but unbelievable, and certainly they'd end up being expelled immediately and possibly brought up on charges.

Cameos by adult actors like Van Patten, Jamie Farr, Richard Moll and Sherman Hemsley is supposed to entice older viewers into being interested in this, but I didn't find any reason to mark this as just another 80's slob comedy where there was no real motivation (or even caring for one) for the two leads. Dana Hill as the female cadet is the only one who gets a detailed back story. I can see why this ended up being tossed to TV (having been made for the big screen it appears), and why it's faded from memory, perhaps giving Clooney a sigh of relief.
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