''Hair High'' is a 2004 American
adult animated
An adult is a human or other animal that has reached full growth. In human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with social and legal concepts. In contrast to a " minor", a legal adult is a person who has attained the age of major ...
horror romantic comedy film
Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...
by
American filmmaker
Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, castin ...
Bill Plympton
Bill Plympton (born April 30, 1946) is an American animator, graphic designer, cartoonist, and filmmaker best known for his 1987 Academy Awards-nominated animated short '' Your Face'' and his series of shorts featuring a dog character starting wit ...
. The film is a spoof of late-50s and early-60s high school movies.
Plot
A gothic high-school comedy with a ''
Carrie''-like story. A bickering teen couple, Wally (
Michael Showalter
Michael Showalter (born June 17, 1970) is an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer. He first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's ''The State'', which aired from 1993 to 1995. He and David Wain created the ''Wet Hot ...
) and Buttercup (
Hayley DuMond) visit Jojo (
Keith Carradine
Keith Ian Carradine ( ; born August 8, 1949) is an American actor who has had success on stage, film, and television. He is known for his roles as Tom Frank in Robert Altman's film ''Nashville'', Wild Bill Hickok in the HBO series '' Deadwood ...
)’s Diner for a drink. Having relationship issues with each other, Jojo decides to tell a story about a couple like them. The story he quotes is “a tale of the prom, of love, of Cherri and Spud.” Cherri (
Sarah Silverman
Sarah Kate Silverman (born December 1, 1970) is an American comedian, actress, and writer.
Silverman was a writer and performer on ''Saturday Night Live'', and she starred in and produced '' The Sarah Silverman Program'', which ran from 2007 to ...
) and Rod (
Dermot Mulroney) are the Echo Lake high school king and queen and they justifiably rule their domain. Cherri’s friend, Darlene (
Beverly D'Angelo) is also in love with Rod while his friend Zip (
Zak Orth
Zak Orth (born October 15, 1970) is an American actor known for his roles in ''Wet Hot American Summer'', '' The Baxter'', '' Melinda and Melinda'', '' In and Out'', ''Music and Lyrics'', and '' NYC 22''. He also starred in the NBC television dram ...
) is in love with her. Spud (
Eric Gilliland
Eric Raymond Gilliland is an American television producer, writer, actor and whistler.
Early life
Gilliland was born and raised in Glenview, Illinois, United States. He graduated from Glenbrook South High School in 1980 and from Northwestern Uni ...
), the new kid in town, accidentally offends both Cherri and Rod when he scuffs Rod’s car and he writes an insulting note to Cherri and so is forced to become her slave. Naturally and immediately, they hate each other, such as making him do her bidding and humiliating him after a football game, but later on, they fall in love. Cherri and Spud secretly decide to go to the prom together, and on prom night, a rejected Rod forces their car off the road and into the lake. In true 50's ballad style, their car sinks to the bottom of the lake as they share one last kiss. Wally thinks the story is over, but Buttercup thinks otherwise, with Jojo agreeing with her. Going back to the story, Rod lied to teacher Miss Crumbles (
Martha Plimpton
Martha Plimpton (born November 16, 1970) is an American actress. Her feature-film debut was in '' Rollover'' (1981); she subsequently rose to prominence in the Richard Donner film ''The Goonies'' (1985). She has also appeared in '' The Mosquito ...
) that Spud stole Cherri and moved to Mexico with her, having Darlene crowned prom queen and him as the remaining prom king. While the bodies of Cherri and Spud lie in a timeless embrace, Rod is successful in thwarting any investigation and is able to get away with murder. On the night of the following year's prom, the car magically comes to life and slowly drives out of the lake with Cherri and Spud, as if nothing had happened, only this time their bodies are in an advanced state of decomposition. Their rusty and water-logged car drives to the prom and just as Rod and Darlene are about to be crowned king and queen of the prom as before, Cherri and Spud enter the ballroom - the spotlight follows them as they cross the dance floor, with all the attendees in shock. As they approach the stage, spiders, bugs, snakes, lizards and fish ooze from their sagging skin and skeletal bodies, eating Rod’s friend Dwayne (
Justin Long
Justin Jacob Long (born June 2, 1978) is an American actor, comedian, director and screenwriter. Long is known for his film roles, notably appearing in '' Jeepers Creepers'' (2001), ''Dodgeball'' (2004), '' Accepted'' (2006), ''Idiocracy'' (2 ...
) and the prom attendees, including Darlene, freak as they mount the stairs to the stage. Spud takes the crown and places it on Cherri as the animals attack and devour Rod, allowing them to be prom king and queen. At the diner Buttercup sobs over how tragic but beautiful it was, but Wally tries to find out what the point of the story is. Jojo explains to them that Cherri and Spud created a special romance in their short lives. They laugh and joke about it, until they hear the familiar car sounds of Cherri and Spud driving to the prom. Now believing that the story is true, Wally and Buttercup make up with a kiss. Jojo asks if they believe the story. Wally says that he guesses so, and the movie ends with him asking “Who made up this story?”
Cast
Release
It had its U.S. cinema premiere on 17 April 2004 and was released on DVD on 21 July 2010.
Bill Plympton's Hair High DVD Now Available
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References
External links
Official site
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{{Bill Plympton
2004 films
2004 animated films
2000s American animated films
2000s comedy horror films
American comedy horror films
American high school films
Films directed by Bill Plympton
American animated feature films
Films set in the 1950s
2004 comedy films
2000s English-language films