BAD TEACHER review by Marisa Ings

 

 

 

 

 

Starring:  Cameron Diaz as Elizabeth Halsey, Jason Segal as Russell Gettis, and Justin Timberlake as Scott Delacorte.

Director:   Jake Kasdan

MPAA Rating:  Rated R for sexual content, nudity, language and some drug use

Genre:  Comedy

By:  Marisa  Ings

When it comes to her students, Elizabeth Halsey (Cameron Diaz) just doesn’t give an “F.” Forget teaching, she’s too busy trying to wrangle a new bountiful beau. After recently being dumped by her meek yet rich fiancé the materialistic Elizabeth begrudgingly returns to the job she recently quit but this time she has a plan: find another wealthy man to replace her ex, quit her job and live the good life.

Her prayers are answered when Elizabeth discovers there’s a new substitute in town Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake) who she believes is loaded and cute! Elizabeth decides the best way to snag Scott is to enhance her breasts and as she begins her quest to trap him in her web of lies another teacher, the uptight and slightly nutty Amy Squirrel (Lucy Punch), steps into the ring to challenge Elizabeth for Scott’s attention and expose the many low-down money-making schemes Elizabeth executes to fundraise for her new implants.

This self absorbed teacher has no shame and uses manipulation, deceit and bribery to get her way. No longer ‘the girl next door’, Cameron Diaz masters this character’s entertaining flaws, playing bad oh so well. Even off camera, when the attention isn’t directly on her, the actress continues with her laissez faire façade. When the borderline bad gym teacher Russell Gettis (Jason Segal) attempts to capture Elizabeth’s attention she quickly shuts him down… It’s very entertaining. The playfully-naughty flirtations between the two are fun to watch!

As for Scott Delacorte, throw some glasses on Justin Timberlake and I still can’t picture him as a nerd. Although Cameron’s motives were surrounded by his character, in my opinion the character was under developed and did not add very much to the film’s comedy. Except, that is, for the dry humping scene which was… a little weird!

Bad Teacher is reminiscent of the film Bad Santa staring Billy Bob Thornton only Cameron Diaz is in a school setting, not dressed up as Mrs. Claus. Bad Teacher was bad (as in good). Although the mischievous character is well played it would have been nice to see the film taken to the next level of bad.

Final Grade: B-