SCHOOL OF LIFE

US, 2005, 110 minutes. Colour.
Ryan Reynolds, David Paymer, John Astin, Andrew Robb, Kate Vernon.
Directed by William Dear.

School of Life is a satisfyingly inspirational film for family audiences.

The film focuses on a small school and its ethos, John Astin portraying the principal and the most popular teacher for students for forty-three years. However, Astin’s character dies within the first few minutes of the film – though his inspirational influence is mentioned frequently during it.

David Paymer, always a reliable actor (Mr Saturday Night, Get Shorty), is Astin’s son, a rather more restrained teacher of biology, worried about what is appropriate or not. He is married to Kate Vernon and has a son, Dylan (Andrew Robb).

When school starts after the funeral, and a mysterious visitor to his father’s grave has been sighted, we discover that this character is Mr Michael de Angelo, played by Ryan Reynolds (before he was to become prominent in such films as X- Men Origins: Wolverine, The Proposal, Buried and The Green Lantern.

Mr D., whom the audience eventually learns has terminal cancer, is a born teacher, enthusing the students in his opening addresses, encouraging participation and storytelling in his history courses, taking over from the rather obese coach and urging the players to cheer the opposition and enjoy their success as well as their own. The school, the principal and the students all respond well to Mr D. However, the rather serious Matt Warner (Paymer) does not. He becomes obsessed, following Mr. D., and finding out about his illness.

As might be expected, Mr D. finally has a good effect on Matt Warner, who changes his class style, interacts with the students, gains some admiration for his wary son as well as from his wife.

There is a moving scene at the end where Matt Warner visits Mr D. in hospital and expresses his gratitude.

While the film is full of sentiment, it generally avoids sentimentality, using humour, the puzzle at Matt Warner’s paranoia, the terminal illness as giving some kind of edge to the proceedings.

The film was directed by William Dear, a prolific television director who made such films as Harry and the Hendersons, Angels in the Outfield and Wild America.

1. A family film? Inspirational film?

2. The town, homes, school, the classrooms, the laboratories, the sports fields and gymnasia? Authentic feel? Musical score?

3. The title, the importance of life education? Stormin’ Norman and his sayings? The effect on Matt, on Mr D., on the rest of the school?

4. The voice-over, Dylan and his point of view, his admiration for his grandfather, wariness about his father, his relationship to his parents, his response to Mr D., his friends at school, his attraction towards Chase? His changes of attitude?

5. The opening ceremony, the spirit of the school, the staff, the students, the award, forty-three years for Norman, his speech, collapse, death, bequest? The funeral? Mr D. at the grave?

6. The opening of the school year, Mr D. and his speech, the criticisms, his sense of mischief, his achievement with the students?

7. Matt, at home, proper, the shadow of his father, relationship with his wife, quiet, his becoming more paranoid about Mr D., the odd behaviour, getting his report book, the episode of the pyjamas? Following Mr D., learning about his illness? His change? His wife and her reactions? Mr D. and the final talk?

8. The assembly, the staff, the introduction to Mr D., the rousing response?

9. The classes, history and her story, knowing the students’ names, the big armchair? Classes in the round, affirming the students, telling the stories, getting them to participate, the Civil War and the fight outside the laboratory, dressing up as an Indian? Sport, getting the students to cheer their opponents? The coach and his reliance on Mr D? The boy with the pie in the microwave, Matt refusing, Mr D. successful? The teacher and her asking him to go out on a date, his response? Mr D. and the assessments, the students getting As, the vindication from the principal? His parking space?

10. Matt and his class, boring, the cheeky kids, going to the principal? Matt’s son, his name? His name? His not wanting what was appropriate, becoming more obsessed, the book with the results, the pyjamas, going to sleep, in the principal’s office, the fact that Mr D. had followed regulations? His being laughed at? Following him, spying, the coat, learning the truth at the hospital? Seeing Mr D. visiting his wife? Change of heart?

11. The phrase that there was never enough time, the sports, Matt and his change, encouraging the teams, his own classes, dressing up as Friar Mendel, bringing in the lung? Mr D's visit, reaction to the lung? The children appreciating him, his son amazed at the change, getting Mr D's chair?

12. Mr D., the lungs, returning to class, his outburst, talking to Dylan and Chase? In hospital, his return? The supply teacher in his place, her severity, the children going to the principal?

13. Matt and his visit, talking to Mr D., his response?

14. Matt’s speech to the children about Mr D's presence, giving to others meaning that somebody was alive in them?

15. Mr D's death, the trophy, his being the teacher with the award, Matt succeeding him?

16. Themes of education, the nature of education, of teaching, of learning, of sharing experience and knowledge with the children and passing it on?