Bad Teacher (2011) - February Filmathon Film #3

On the Menu: BAD TEACHER (2011)
Ingredients: Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Jason Segel, Lucy Punch, John Michael Higgins, Eric Stonestreet, Thomas Lennon, Phyllis Smith, Kaitlyn Dever, Noah Munck, David Paymer, Molly Shannon, Matt Besser and Rick Overton. Directed by Jake Kasdan. Run time: 97 minutes. Rated: Unrated.
At First Bite: When the trailer for this one came out, it did not appeal to me at all. It didn't look very funny, and I'm not a big fan of Cameron Diaz. So, seeing it in the theater wasn't going to happen.

DVD is another story though.

Elizabeth Halsey (Diaz) is an apathetic teacher who is just skating by while planning her wedding to some rich doofus. After her last day at work, her fiancé dumps her. So, she ends up back at school trying to seduce a wealthy substitute, Mr. Delacorte (Timberlake).
Tough to Swallow: Jem Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird is referred to as a 'she.' And, in a different scene, Scout is referred to as 'he.'

Drug sniffing dogs wouldn't miss a false bottom in a drawer.

The 'sex' scene is beyond retarded.

A pull quote on the back of the DVD from Yahoo's Denise Parkinson reads "Totally hillarious." Yes, two L's. Where's my red pen?
Something to Chew On: The film won 3 Teen Choice Awards, including Best Comedy. I imagine it got the most votes because it featured more kids. The movie beat out BRIDESMAIDS (R), THE OTHER GUYS (PG-13), DUE DATE (R) and LITTLE FOCKERS (PG-13).

Paul Feig, director of BRIDESMAIDS, has a cameo as a parent at the car wash.

Paul Bates (COMING TO AMERICA) plays the superintendent.

Dever, like Stonestreet ("Modern Family"), stars in an ABC comedy ("Last Man Standing").
Aftertaste: The movie has its funny moments, but none really involve Diaz or Timberlake, whose character is just awkward overall. Segel, Punch and Smith have the best characters and lines. Higgins is wasted.

Also, the chemistry is never there between Ms. Halsey and Mr. Delacorte. However, it's not like you're really given a reason to root for them since neither character is really likable. I mean, Halsey is a gold digger whose life goal is getting a boob job. The later romance is simply forced on us.

I think the writing was the problem. The story had potential, but got lost somewhere. Teacher movies work because the teacher finds a way to transform the children. Here the children aren't really given a chance to do much of anything aside from answering questions about Atticus Finch. I'm not sure they even took the test at the end.

I will say if were a teacher, I would also show movies in class and grade papers by writing "Stupid" and "Is this f***ing English?" on them.

BAD TEACHER doesn't quite make the grade.
Rating: