Bad Teacher (2011)

Now here is a movie that surprised me in a good way! I went in not expecting much, a bit like Bridesmaids, and came out with a huge smile on my face.
At first I thought it would be the typical good teacher/bad teacher movie, and it is in a way, yet it manages to be both innovative and amusing at the same time.
We follow here Cameron Diaz, stuck in a teacher job as her rich husband has left her. She falls for new assistant, Justin Timberlake, the only problems are her top assets. She believes she needs to get breast-enlargements in order to win his heart (and wallet in the process as he is the heir to a watch empire). Throw in HIMYM’s Jason Segel as the gym teacher who’s fallen for Diaz and we have here a very funny movie that had me yearning to return to high-school and becoming an assistant teacher.
Cameron Diaz is wonderful as the most inappropriate, foul mouthed, drug abusing, drunk teacher a school could have. Parents will probably hate it, but if you, in some weird twisted way, found the school part of your life fun, you will adore it. She is also great as the profiteering friend, trying to turn every situation to her advantage. Her role here proves that Cameron Diaz knows how to do funny very well! Justin Timberlake’s character is both pathetic and amusing at the same time. One thing is for sure, you will not look at him in the same way as before. (The part when he sings is particularly amusing. I can’t really tell you about the other very funny part; you’ll have to see for yourself).
I guess the real appeal to this movie is that we always tried to imagine how our teachers got along, when we were back at school, and in a way this movie gives us an accurate view to our image. We liked to picture them mocking each other, or trying to compete with one another. When a new younger teacher joined the school, we always wondered how things would get along. Bad Teacher answers these questions, exactly the way we’d like them answered (not always the truth I’m afraid though).
I cannot find any major faults in this comedy. Maybe the plot line is a bit simplistic, come to think of it. Maybe the end romance is a bit too obvious. Oh, and I guess some of the characters are textbook school-movie ones, so no real creativity there. It does feel very Americanised, but then again, no one seems to complain about Glee, unfortunately. All I can say is, if you are young, open-minded and enjoyed school, you will definitely enjoy this movie.

4.5/5

Loved: Really funny, great school atmosphere, great actors
Hated: Maybe a bit too simplistic, not for parents