Fist Fight 2017

As the final bell tolls on the last day of school at Roosevelt High, the seniors revel in their freedom, orchestrating a series of mischievous pranks that leave teachers reeling. Among them is English instructor Andy Campbell (Charlie Day), whose usually even temperament is tested when his prized parking spot is usurped by a whiz-kid on a scooter. Meanwhile, History teacher Ron Strickland (Ice Cube) proves an unyielding enforcer of school rules, cracking down on two students caught red-handed in the act of pilfering the prized baseball bat from the gym’s trophy case and replacing it with a laptop for their own illicit purposes.

As the clock ticks toward the day’s evaluations, which will determine the fate of their jobs, some teachers are gripped by anxiety. Campbell, in particular, is beset by worry as he and his wife Maggie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) await the arrival of their second child. His stress is compounded when students in his class resort to juvenile humor, defacing his chalkboard with lewd drawings. A visit from guidance counselor Holly Grossman (Jillian Bell) offers a glimmer of hope, as she reveals that some of his colleagues have already received pink slips, potentially safeguarding Campbell’s own employment.

In the teachers’ lounge, Campbell, Holly, and their colleague Coach Crawford (Tracy Morgan) commiserate about the uncertain future facing them. The somber mood is briefly interrupted by the arrival of History teacher Ron Strickland, who complains vociferously about the school’s budgetary priorities while attempting to operate the new coffee machine. Campbell offers his assistance, but even this small act of kindness fails to impress Strickland.

Campbell’s already precarious situation takes a turn for the worse when he stumbles upon a student caught in flagrante delicto in the bathroom. His valiant efforts to intervene are foiled by drama teacher Ms. Monet (Christina Hendricks), who has grown increasingly suspicious of Campbell’s character, fueled by this latest incident.

As Campbell navigates his way through the bustling school corridors, he’s unexpectedly halted by Strickland, who requires his assistance in navigating the intricacies of AV equipment for their class. Initially resistant, Campbell relents and agrees to lend a hand, only to be intercepted once more by Strickland, this time foiling an elaborate prank orchestrated by mischievous students. The catalyst for this chain of events is none other than Neil (Austin Zajur), whose remote app on his phone precipitates the malfunctioning VCR, prompting Strickland to take drastic measures and smash Neil’s device against the chalkboard.

The situation escalates further when a student discreetly passes her phone to Neil, allowing him to perpetuate the prank once more. Seething with frustration, Strickland disappears from the classroom only to reappear wielding a fire axe, which he uses to devastating effect on Neil’s desk, sending it into splintered oblivion.

In the aftermath of this chaotic episode, Strickland and Campbell are summoned to Principal Tyler’s (Dean Norris) office, where they’re confronted with the fallout. Strickland urges Campbell to stand united as a teaching duo, but their pleas fall on deaf ears as Tyler threatens to terminate both instructors if he doesn’t receive a clear explanation for the melee. Compelled by fear and desperation, Campbell crumbles under pressure, blaming Strickland for the debacle, which ultimately results in his colleague’s termination.

As payback for this perceived betrayal, Strickland issues an ultimatum: a one-on-one confrontation to settle their differences later that day after school. Word of the impending showdown spreads like wildfire throughout the school, with rumors circulating about Strickland’s troubled past, painting him as an ex-cop, Special Forces operative, or even a cold-blooded killer.

In the face of this escalating drama, Holly and Crawford confidently predict that Strickland will deliver a crushing blow to Campbell, effectively ending their colleague’s teaching career. Campbell, however, remains resolute in his efforts to avoid confrontation, aware that one misstep could have far-reaching consequences.

Meanwhile, Ms. Monet approaches Strickland with an unsavory suggestion, fueled by her own prejudices and biases against Campbell. With a sinister glint in her eye, she implores Strickland to consider using a knife as his weapon of choice in the impending battle.

As Campbell’s desperation grows, he makes a last-ditch effort to salvage his relationship with Neil, offering to retract his previous complaint about the classroom incident on one condition: Neil must agree to accept a brand-new MacBook Pro. With no time to waste, Campbell dashes off to the nearest computer store, where he runs into Maggie and their daughter Ally (Alexa Nisenson). Maggie’s concerns about her husband’s sudden interest in electronics are palpable, and Ally’s empathetic ear only adds to Campbell’s unease. When probed about the laptop, Campbell spins a web of deceit, claiming it’s a surprise for his wife. However, Ally’s keen insight reveals that Campbell is actually covering up his own troubles, having recently lost his job due to a lack of self-advocacy.

As tensions simmer, Campbell and Neil concoct a scheme to salvage Strickland’s reputation by fabricating an apology for the classroom incident. This ruse ultimately backfires when both Campbell and Strickland are summoned to a mediation session in the Model UN room. Campbell attempts to downplay the situation, assuring Strickland that all is forgiven and his job has been reinstated – but this only further enflames Strickland’s ire, as he feels belittled by Campbell’s failure to discuss the matter with him.

As Campbell’s frustration mounts, he resorts to an unconventional solution: a 911 call reporting an impending physical altercation with another teacher. The operators on the other end respond with laughter and skepticism, further eroding Campbell’s already fragile composure. In his classroom, Campbell is then subjected to a humiliating prank, as students orchestrate a elaborate ruse involving a horse under the influence of methamphetamine, leaving him drenched in paint along with his colleague Crawford.

This final indignity proves the proverbial straw, prompting Campbell to concoct an audacious plan to ensnare Strickland. He decides to plant drugs in Strickland’s classroom and orchestrate a sting operation designed to culminate in the other teacher’s arrest. As the stakes escalate, it becomes increasingly clear that Campbell has reached a breaking point, his sanity hanging precariously in the balance as he teeters on the brink of chaos.

As Campbell (actor name) makes his way to Strickland’s classroom, he finds himself in a precarious situation. Neil had given him what they believed to be Molly, but little did he know that it would lead to a series of events that would unravel the very fabric of their reality. Upon running into Tyler, he learns that his evaluation is now scheduled for 2:15, mere minutes before Ally’s show. Campbell seizes the opportunity to plant the drugs in Strickland’s class, waits patiently outside with Holly and Crawford, and watches as the drug-sniffing dog fails to detect any illicit substances, allowing the cops to leave without incident.

However, Holly takes out a joint, which Campbell swiftly grabs, and runs into the classroom, determined to lure the authorities back. Strickland, who had already arrived at the scene, is well aware of Campbell’s intentions. As Campbell lights the joint and beckons the cops, campus security guard Mehar (Kumail Nanjiani) also arrives on the scene. In a bizarre turn of events, both Strickland and Campbell find themselves arrested.

As they sit in their cell, Campbell lashes out at Strickland, blaming him for the predicament they now face. Attempting to stir up trouble, Campbell approaches a large inmate (Winston James Francis) and whispers something in his ear, nodding as if awaiting approval. He then returns to Strickland, seeking to incite further conflict, but is met with unexpected resistance.

Strickland reveals that he had orchestrated the whole ordeal to demonstrate the school’s lack of concern for student misconduct, implying that Campbell was too afraid to engage in a physical confrontation. The big inmate approaches, and Strickland uses a clever sleeper hold to take him down, making it clear that Campbell had set them up all along.

Just as things seem to be settling down, a cop arrives to inform the duo that they are free to go due to the Molly being revealed as nothing more than aspirin. As they exit their cell, Strickland’s words echo in their minds: “You’re not even man enough to fight.”

As the clock struck 2:00, Campbell made a hasty return to school for his evaluation, only to be met with devastating news from Crawford - Holly, Monet, and he himself had all been summarily fired. Forced to wait outside as the minutes ticked by, Campbell’s frustration boiled over, prompting him to barge into Tyler’s office where he found the superintendent (Dennis Haysbert) sharing a tale with the principal. When Campbell inquired about the purpose of his summons, Tyler brushed him off, claiming it was none of his concern. Seething with indignation, Campbell finally voiced his discontent, lambasting Tyler and the superintendent for their ineptitude and callous disregard for the school’s well-being. With that, he turned on his heel and departed.

In a frantic bid to make up for lost time, Campbell hastened to Ally’s school just as she was concluding her lackluster performance of the iconic “Rent” song. He swiftly intervened, persuading Maggie to switch tracks to Big Sean’s infectious beats. Apologizing profusely for his tardiness, Campbell joined Ally on stage, blissfully unaware that the song she had chosen was actually a defiant anthem aimed at her tormentor, Trisha. Despite being cut off mid-performance by another teacher, the students erupted into applause, clearly enthralled by Ally’s raw talent. Campbell beamed with pride as he rushed off to join the fray.

Meanwhile, outside, the entire student body had gathered for the highly anticipated rumble. As Campbell arrived on the scene, he was met with thunderous applause and cheers from the assembled throng. With Strickland as his opponent, the fight commenced, with Strickland landing an initial blow before Campbell rebounded with a series of potent jabs. Undaunted by Strickland’s superior strength, Campbell employed an unorthodox arsenal, including biting his adversary’s leg and dispatching him with a trusty stapler. As the battle raged on, Campbell seized a fire extinguisher and unleashed a barrage of foam, culminating in a crushing blow that sent Strickland crashing to the ground. The crowd erupted into jubilation as Campbell celebrated his triumph.

However, before he could savor his victory, Campbell was summoned to a phone call from Maggie, which Strickland answered while gloating over his earlier conquest. With the news that Maggie was in labor, Strickland dragged Campbell off to the hospital, where they arrived just in time to witness the birth of their friend’s child.

As Campbell enters Maggie’s room, he finds himself pouring out his emotions, recounting the trials and tribulations of his day with unbridled passion. It’s as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders, freeing him to finally assert himself after weeks of bottled-up frustration. With his emotional burden lightened, he turns his attention to preparing for the impending arrival of their baby.

Fast-forward to the sweltering summer afternoon when the Campbells host a lively barbecue, replete with old friends like Holly and Crawford. Ally has undergone a transformation, now basking in the admiration of her peers. Meanwhile, Tyler makes a surprise appearance, bearing grave news that the school board’s attention has been piqued by the infamous fight between Campbell and Strickland. With his own job hanging precariously in the balance, he implores both men to return to work, citing their shared responsibility for the situation. Campbell agrees to reprise his role on one condition: he wants Tyler to reinstate Holly, Crawford, and Monet to their positions.

As the new school year dawns, Campbell’s triumphant return is marked by a series of heartwarming events. With Tyler’s blessing, Holly, Crawford, and Monet are welcomed back into the fold. Strickland, meanwhile, has undergone a subtle yet profound shift in his demeanor, now displaying a begrudging respect for Campbell that borders on admiration. The two educators find themselves confronted with a distressing scenario: a student bully targeting another youngster. Without hesitation, they dispatch the aggressor to detention, their combined authority and compassion serving as a powerful deterrent. As the dust settles, Campbell and Strickland set off to tackle their respective classes, their renewed bond and shared sense of purpose setting the tone for a successful new academic year.