Dome Pondering Movie Review: Bad Teacher (2011)

What is it about?

After a woman's goldigging ways are revealed and her engagement is broken off, a junior high school teacher returns to teaching to kill time until she is able to catch the next sugar daddy.

Who is in it?

Cameron Diaz - Elizabeth Halsey

Lucy Punch - Amy Squirrel

Jason Segel - Russell Gettis

Favorite Scene:

While in the car smoking marijuana, one of Ms. Halsey's students walks up and catches her in the act. Halsey then addresses the acts as medicinal, and has some choice words for the girl.

Favorite Quote:

"I have received a call from Mark's dad saying the car wash was a success, and then I got a call from Chase's dad about the car wash being a great success, and then a call from Danni's dad saying we should have a car wash every weekend. So whatever she did, worked."

Review:

I understand that Bad Teacher is supposed to be a comedy, unfortunately, the film leaves a lot to be desired in that category.

First the positives: Bad Teacher has an interesting concept behind it, and has a plot that can be developed into an interesting film if done correctly. Also, Cameron Diaz does a great job as Elizabeth Halsey, the foul-mouthed, no ambition, goldigger. And the rest of the cast was stocked with incredible potential. The talent was there to do so much more.

However, Bad Teacher is a bad movie. It's run at comedy fell flat several times, and it's use of Jason Segel, arguably the film's most interesting actor, was pathetic and pointless. The plot is filled with random occurrences happening to move the plot along. A plot that seemed all over the place in direction, and confused in so many ways. This was combined with poorly defined characters.

Ultimately, Bad Teacher attempted to turn a foul mouthed, no ambition, scheming against the best teacher in the school, and law breaking character into the protagonist of the story. Hard to do so, and it pretty much sets up the downfall that is Bad Teacher.

Serviceable film at best.

Grade: 1.5/5

Recently Read Posts

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 5/22/22

3 Up 1. NY Times Investigative Series on Haiti - The history of Haiti is such a complex (and unfortunate) one. Really, it's a story that goes untold, specifically for the context of how the country is viewed. From being forced to pay operations to enslavers (yeah, you read that right), to so many other historical setbacks - including American interventions - the nation's history is so well laid out in this latest NY Times piece. I urge you to give it a read. 2. Equal Pay for US Women's Soccer Team - Kudos to US Soccer on coming around to giving the USWNT their due - equal pay for prize money from the World Cup. It's a start, and more importantly, it's a push forward for women's sports that do in fact push the needle in comparison, or more so, to their male counterparts. 3. Kate McKinnon - Random "UP" here, but I'm doing it anyway...A few SNL usuals are rumored to be walking away, including Kate McKinnon. The show obviously doesn't carry the

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 4/10/22

3 Up 1. Ketanji Brown Jackson - The new Supreme Court Justice is a win for black and brown girls everywhere. Representation matters. 2. Women's College Basketball Ratings - I'm giving the women's tournament its due as it garnered the highest television ratings ever for the national championship game in eighteen years. And that was head-to-head with the Grammys! Spare me the "women's sports don't draw" tired narrative. Invest in women's sports, period. 3. Baseball Returns - Sure, the sport bothered fans over the winter with its ugly and insulting labor spat. However, it's back, and that's cool. 3 Down 1. Ukraine Images - Unfortunately, I had to put the ongoing acts in Ukraine back in the tops spot. Have you seen some of the images coming out of the country? For me, it was the image of parents writing children's information (i.e. names, details of eating habits, etc...) on their backs - on their backs! - in anticipation of being separated

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Amateur (2018)

What is it about? The recruiting and exploitation of a teenage basketball phenom expose the immoral undercurrent world of amateur sports and business. Who is in it? Michael Rainey Jr. - Terron Forte Jr. Brian White - Vince Josh Charles - Coach Gaines

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/27/22

3 Up 1. Volodymyr Zelensky - The President of Ukraine delivered a speech this week that certainly went viral not just for his take as the current war on Ukraine ensues, but for his honesty and courage throughout it. 2. Kentaji Brown Jackson - In a world on fire, here at home President Biden nominated Jackson, who becomes the first black woman to serve on the highest court in the nation. That's so cool. I'm happier for the tons of little girls of color who can dream of being a Supreme Court Judge, and now believe it.

Dome Pondering

Search This Blog