BAD TEACHER
US, 2011, 92 minutes. Colour.
Cameron Diaz, Lucy Punch, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake, Phyllis Smith, John Michael Higgins, Matthew J. Evans, Thomas Lennon.
Directed by Jake Kasdan.
A bit of cinema froth. Black froth. Easily blown away, but may leave a bad taste in the mouth. But, it is still only froth and to be judged accordingly. Anyone who goes to see Bad Teacher thinking it is a film about education obviously hasn’t done their homework.
The comedy is akin to South Park or those satires which take up a theme and imagine how it would play if you took and exaggerated the possible bad (which makes sense only if you appreciate what is good). So, Bad Teacher is something like a 90 minute unwashed shaggy dog story about a completely self-centred, go-getting, unscrupulous teacher, Elizabeth, played with full on energy by Cameron Diaz, manipulating people, ignoring students (until a bonus for getting best results comes into view), being rude to everyone. It’s the kind of satiric joke we sometimes like to spin. It’s also like a series of vignettes for a television series, rather hit and miss in its targets and its humour which, of necessity, has its many crass moments.
Farewelled from school after one year at work (how she got there in the first place is a mystery) but ditched by her fiance’s mother-in-law, she goes back to school, full of temporary surface charm but planning on getting another wealthy fiancé by undergoing breast enhancement. Some of the situations and jokes are obvious – her turning up for the grade 7 car wash day and making a mint because of the ogling men; her seduction of a city official to get an advance copy of tests. But, there are some funny black moments and wisecracks (and getting her class to watch teacher movies, Stand and Deliver, Dangerous Minds, Lean on Me – and the death of the principal, Henry Winkler, in Scream!).
Justin Timberlake gives a nice performance as the completely gullible nice and naive (wealthy) teacher. Lucy Punch has the unenviable role of being the rival for teacher accolades and for the nice teacher. Jason Segal is the gym teacher who takes a wry (but ogling) view of Elizabeth. John Michael Higgins is the harassed principal. Phyllis Smith is engaging as the large, simple and would-be friend.
Then it ends with Elizabeth back at school – but it is hard to tell whether the film makers are just being satirical or are trying to be romantic, or having it both ways.
1. Success as a black comedy? Frothy? The basic joke? Satire?
2. The title and expectations? The education context – good and bad teachers, bad behaviour?
3. The Illinois setting, the background of Lincoln? The town, Springfield? Middle America?
4. The screenplay and its wit, lack of wit, satire, excess, relying on images of the good teacher?
5. Cameron Diaz and her style? Embodying the bad teacher? Justin Timberlake playing against type?
6. A series of vignettes rather than a consecutive plot? The value and hit-and-miss of each vignette?
7. The character of Elizabeth, at her farewell, her stand-offish attitude, self-centred, hedonist, the interview with her fiancé, the attack by the prospective mother-in-law, her desperation, needing money?
8. Her decision to return to school, her getting round the principal, his liking her, her playing on his love for dolphins? Her sidestepping the issues and the attacks? The encounters with Amy? Amy and her gush? Lynn and her being nice, taking Elizabeth to lunch? Docile and obeying commands? Scott, the focus of her attention? His wealth? Russell, the gym teacher, attracted or not? Her behaviour in the staffroom? Missing out on assemblies? The bond with Scott?
9. Amy and her character, her eccentric classes, her success, past success but breakdown? Helping Elizabeth? The growing rivalry? Reporting her for embezzling the money, the investigation as regards the test? Elizabeth getting her revenge, the rash, Elizabeth going on the trip instead of Amy? Amy moving the desk – but not returning it, the drugs? Amy and her hysterical behaviour? The phone call, hearing Scott over the phone? Her being arrested? Her decision to go to another school?
10. Elizabeth and classes, showing the movies, spitting out the gift of the cookies? The humour of the education movies – Dangerous Minds, Lean on Me, Stand and Deliver, Scream? Her not knowing the students’ names? The students and their critique of her? The parents and the meeting? The extra money for special coaching?
11. Her sex appeal, the issue of breast enhancement? The sampling, the discussions with the doctor? The amount of money? Her bright idea with the carwash, the sex appeal and the parents ogling? Taking the money? The news about the bonus, changing her school methods, the demands on the students, To Kill a Mockingbird, the quizzes and tests, her anger at correcting the poor essays, the classes in the gym and her throwing the balls at the students? Russell’s reaction?
12. Wanting to get the test, stealing Amy’s wig, the visit and the drinks with the official, talking with him, his becoming drunk, going to his office, stealing the test, taking the compromising photos? The official denying the accusations? The supervisors and their amazement?
13. Scott, his way of talking, nice, the band, the audience, Elizabeth going to listen to him? At the dance, talking with Scott? Organising herself to go on the trip, the tour with Lincoln? Garrett and his declaration about the young girl? Her reaction to the outburst? Her blunt talking? The night with Scott, the phone, Amy hearing?
14. Garrett, his blunt declaration, Elizabeth and her explaining that he would never be popular? Giving him the bra, his boasting with the boys?
15. Russell, his work at the school, his ambitions, thwarted? Happy in his job? The attraction towards Elizabeth? Her rejection? - but the finale?
16. The laughter at the bad, her lack of scruple? The film having it both ways at the end, the touch of romance, her coming back to school – and the irony of her being a counsellor?
