In today’s media overdosed and jaded society, the shock value of uncensored material has definitely been diluted by sources like cable television and the Internet. However, the “R” film rating still holds some gravitas, especially when it comes to comedy. Back in the 1980’s the box office was inundated with these types of films, but as the quality decreased so did audiences appetite for them. 1998’s There’s Something About Mary is the film credited most with reinvigorating the genre, and over the past decade the R-rated comedy has made a strong comeback. However, anytime something makes a resurgence it’s bound to go through its ups and downs all over again. Since “Mary’s” genesis there have been highs like Wedding Crashers and The Hangover but also films like Miss March and Take Me Home Tonight, which died a quicker death than Michael Richards' stand-up career. Of course these are just the polar extremes, most of what is produced lies somewhere in between. For better or worse, this is the space where Cameron Diaz, the title actor from the ensemble cast of “Mary,” now finds her own R-rated comedy vehicle Bad Teacher, securely parked.Elizabeth Halsey (Cameron Diaz, Knight and Day) is a public school teacher for all the wrong reasons. An amoral, selfish opportunist who is constantly looking to hook up with any ATM with a heartbeat so she can drop her job and live the “good life.” Just as she is about to get all her greedy heart’s desires, her rich fiancée wises up to her scheme and sends her packing back to her old life, pointed tail between her legs. Looking to once again coast through the school year, making everyday “movie day” in her class, she targets her intentions on Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake, The Social Network), a new substitute teacher with an incredibly rich family. Noticing Scott’s taste in women with ample sized chests, Elizabeth decides to get breast enhancement surgery to try to seal the deal. Completely broke, the scrupleless teacher uses her position to raise the money by any means necessary.
Bad Teacher is about as subtle as a text message from Anthony Weiner. The film really wants the audience to know that it’s rated “R” as soon as possible, falling flat in the beginning with jokes that use swear words as their only substance. It does manage to settle down a bit in the 2nd and 3rd acts where most of the comedic endeavors flourish. The film still suffers though throughout from a lack of transitional material and abrupt editing, feeling at times more like a string of sketches woven together. Some commendable child actors in the movie do manage to stand out but were used more to simply appease the plot instead of being an intricate part of it.
The writers, Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg (The Office), style is reminiscent of their very successful sitcom work, but as most TV writers who make the transition find out, it does not work seamlessly into a feature film. Hopefully these lessons will be learned well before the duo is finished with their next project, Ghostbusters III. Big brass stars are given out though for their unyielding portrayal of Elizabeth as an irredeemable character. She does manage to learn some small life lessons, but remains genuine to her crooked nature without any fairy tale epiphanies.
Diaz’s Elizabeth, like 99 percent of the characters in Bad Teacher, is an over the top, cliché characterization. But she rides it out and becomes more believable as the film progresses. As Diaz matures in her career, she seems to be fitting nicely into a stronger female lead instead of just the pretty-face supporting character, emitting rays of personality sunshine. One can see her eventually following in the footsteps of a blooming late career similar to that of Michelle Pfeiffer.
Justin Timberlake, riding the cult following he now has from his heralded hosting jobs on Saturday Night Live, takes his first shot at a role in a full-fledged comedy. Although it’s just a limited performance, Timberlake brings the same humility from his sketch comedy to the role of Scott Delacorte, able to change speeds from dashing and charming to weird and creepy in the blink of boy band. Timberlake actually looks more at home in his movie roles than he ever did in a music video. Although it remains to be seen if he can pilot a film by himself, he should have little problem making an acting career, comedy or otherwise, out of character parts like this.
Playing the antagonist “good” teacher to Diaz’s Elizabeth is Lucy Punch (Take Me Home Tonight) as Amy Squirrel. Even though Amy is a teacher who wants nothing more than to make a difference and educate her students, Punch does a wonderful job of eliciting a definite reaction of animosity toward her character right from her first appearance on screen. The unfortunate facet of Amy is that the script uses her as more of an annoyance instead of exploring some of the more humorous and interesting episodes that are only alluded to from her past.
Russell Gettis (Jason Segal, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Lynn Davies (Phyllis Smith, The Office) are the closest thing to reality anchors in the story. Segal does not take any monumental risks with his character of a P.E. teacher, inserting his usual lax demeanor and subliminal sarcasm. But in comedy this is not a detractor, as the rule is to stick with what works, and Segal has excelled in all of his comedic roles in film and television by pretty much just playing himself with slight personality tweaks. Smith also follows this mantra as she plays Lynn, a shyer and quirkier version of Smith’s character on The Office who’s so hard up for friends she’ll even take an exploiter like Elizabeth.
Ten years from now people are not going to be reminiscing or quoting lines from Bad Teacher. It’s never going to make anyone’s top-10 list but it shouldn’t make their bottom 10 either. Nor will the characters ever be bronzed as “classic.” But as an R-rated comedy, it does its primary job of using adult language and situations just well enough so it can underachieve and live up to the “C” student that it is.
Story: 5.5
Acting: 7.5
Writing: 6.0
Captivation: 6.5
Replay Value: 6.5
Total = 6.4 out of 10
