Surviving High School

The Lifetime Network throws together four of its original movies to create the Surviving High School package. The set contains four films that center on students in high school and the issues that they face, or might face in some "what if" type of scenario. The topics include bullying, teens gone wild, racism, and a throw away installment that doesn’t quite fit about a student who falls in love with her teacher and is determined they end up together at all costs. Well known kid names like Raven-Symone (Thats So Raven), Alexa Vega (Spy Kids), Megan Park (The Secret Life Of the American Teen), and Mika Boorem (The Ward) star in each backed by adult stars such as Aisha Tyler (Archer), Sharon Lawrence (Rizzoli & Isles), Lisa Vidal (The Event), and David Charvet (Baywatch).

The first film in the series is Odd Girl Out which centers on a popular clique of girls who turn on one of their own, sending her life into shambles when they start a nasty rumor to derail her chances of ending up with a popular boy one of them likes. Honestly I felt like the writing was aiming for a “This is what a kid would do or say” vibe that wasn’t really that thought through. It’s like someone took the idea of school bullying and trapped all the predictable scenario’s into one film and over shot the concept. The acting was decent enough but I think even the young actresses in this one felt like it could have been done better. It manages to capture the cautionary tale's message in essence but I couldn’t see myself forcing my way through this one again.

Augusta, Gone was probably a much easier pill to swallow. The true story follows a fifteen year old whose determined to wreck her life with excessive drinking, drugs, and all out wildness. I like that the film has a pretty decent balance between telling the story through the kid's eyes and the parent's eyes. If you have kids this effect will draw you closer into the films theme and either scare the living daylights out of you and have you bar the doors and windows of your family home or, for those less panicky, set some time aside to talk with your kids about, well, just being plain stupid…oh, and staying away from drugs and alcohol. 

The Perfect Teacher is the loser of the bunch. Young school girl gets a crush on a male teacher, they flirt, girl goes bazonkers and the film loses any credibility it might have had as a part of this set. You can probably imagine what comes next, and you will, with this film from step to step.

Finally For One Night focuses on a teen who is determined to bring two high school proms, divided by race, together. Inspired by a true story it just makes me sad to think there are still places in America where this is happening, and even without this story in mind it really still is. I’ve always had a soft spot for themes that involve racism and how to overcome it so I was into this one. It could have been better, sure, but it’s an inspiring tale that the kids and I really liked.

All together I thought the set was decent for its theme, aside from that one bad apple, but if your into the Lifetime Channel you probably could do worse then what you find in this set. As always final judgment is yours. Enjoy.