As the name implies, Bad Teacher — sadly, of no relation to Bad Santa — is about a bad teacher. See, it’s funny cause she’s a bad person and she works with kids. Get it? Yeah, it’s not that funny of a concept. But, it’s also funnier than you’d think, mostly thanks to a solid supporting cast of people far funnier than leading lady, (and the titular bad teacher) Cameron Diaz.
Diaz plays Elizabeth Hasley, a teacher who shows up to work hung-over and passes out at her desk while her students watch movies about teachers who aren’t quite so bad at their jobs (e.g., Stand And Deliver, Dangerous Minds, Lean on Me). Ms. Hasley has her sights met on marrying rich, and her weapons of choice for bagging this financial benefactor are a pair of soon-to-be purchased breast implants. To accomplish this pricey goal, Ms. Hasley has to get creative: taking bribes from parents, strip teasing for tips at a school car wash fundraiser, helping students cheat on standardized tests — teacher stuff. None of this is too funny, and some of it opens up a plot hole, an unanswered question that seems to have been edited into the film about how bad a person Ms. Hasley may or may not actually be.
But then there’s Justin Timberlake. JT plays substitute teacher Scott Delacorte, a handsome and wealthy heir to a watch-making dynasty, who, despite being a bit off, is the moral opposite of Ms. Hasley. Gullible and seemingly oblivious to the idea that anyone might be interested in him solely for his wealth, he’s also the perfect mark for Hasley. And it’s Timberlake, who without hesitation is willing to make himself look like a fool for a good laugh, who carries most of the film’s memorable moments.
Assisting JT are some other truly funny supporting actors: Jason Segel, the good guy gym coach we all know Ms. Hasley should end up with; Ms. Hasley’s crazy roommate, Kirk (Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family); a white wine–drinking state test administrator (Thomas Lennon); and an unenthusiastic Abe Lincoln historical reenactor (Matt Besser of Upright Citizens Brigade).
Bad Teacher has some good laughs, especially when Diaz isn’t in the spotlight, but it still has a lot to learn. If you’re dying for a comedy this summer and have already seen Bridesmaids, you could definitely do worse than Bad Teacher (I’m looking at you, Hangover 2). Like director Jake Kasdan’s other films Orange County and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, it’s the kind of mindless movie one wouldn’t mind watching if there’s nothing else to do. Bad Teacher is a C-student of a comedy; it has the potential to be something great but never really does enough over the bare minimum to stand out from the crowd.
--Eric Pulsifer
Diaz plays Elizabeth Hasley, a teacher who shows up to work hung-over and passes out at her desk while her students watch movies about teachers who aren’t quite so bad at their jobs (e.g., Stand And Deliver, Dangerous Minds, Lean on Me). Ms. Hasley has her sights met on marrying rich, and her weapons of choice for bagging this financial benefactor are a pair of soon-to-be purchased breast implants. To accomplish this pricey goal, Ms. Hasley has to get creative: taking bribes from parents, strip teasing for tips at a school car wash fundraiser, helping students cheat on standardized tests — teacher stuff. None of this is too funny, and some of it opens up a plot hole, an unanswered question that seems to have been edited into the film about how bad a person Ms. Hasley may or may not actually be.
But then there’s Justin Timberlake. JT plays substitute teacher Scott Delacorte, a handsome and wealthy heir to a watch-making dynasty, who, despite being a bit off, is the moral opposite of Ms. Hasley. Gullible and seemingly oblivious to the idea that anyone might be interested in him solely for his wealth, he’s also the perfect mark for Hasley. And it’s Timberlake, who without hesitation is willing to make himself look like a fool for a good laugh, who carries most of the film’s memorable moments.
Assisting JT are some other truly funny supporting actors: Jason Segel, the good guy gym coach we all know Ms. Hasley should end up with; Ms. Hasley’s crazy roommate, Kirk (Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family); a white wine–drinking state test administrator (Thomas Lennon); and an unenthusiastic Abe Lincoln historical reenactor (Matt Besser of Upright Citizens Brigade).
Bad Teacher has some good laughs, especially when Diaz isn’t in the spotlight, but it still has a lot to learn. If you’re dying for a comedy this summer and have already seen Bridesmaids, you could definitely do worse than Bad Teacher (I’m looking at you, Hangover 2). Like director Jake Kasdan’s other films Orange County and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, it’s the kind of mindless movie one wouldn’t mind watching if there’s nothing else to do. Bad Teacher is a C-student of a comedy; it has the potential to be something great but never really does enough over the bare minimum to stand out from the crowd.
--Eric Pulsifer
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