Bad Teacher has been panned as a Bad Santa ripoff. I don't think the problem lies with nicking that film's premise in so much as it does so so poorly. It tells the story of a teacher who wants nothing more than to marry a rich man and get breast implants. When she is dumped by her fiancé she returns to her job in the same lackluster fashion until she learns that the teacher whose students score highest on the state gets a bonus. She then schemes to achieve this feat while fending off the goody two shoes fellow teacher who has her in her sights. The biggest flaw with Bad Teacher is its star Cameron Diaz. Although I liked how the movie was not about her character's change, Diaz does nothing to have us rooting for her character and much of her character's behavior. The film does have its moments as well as a fine supporting cast including Justin Timberlake, John Michael Higgins, and Jason Segal whom I usually dislike but does good work here. Reno 911's Thomas Lennon and Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet are particular standouts in hilarious sequences. Director Jake (son of Lawrence) Kasdan has made another comedy which is very funny in parts but again is lacking on the whole. Recognizing that making solid comedic films is no small task, hopefully Kasdan can fashion the great comedy he seems to have in him.
Entertainment Magazine
Bad Teacher has been panned as a Bad Santa ripoff. I don't think the problem lies with nicking that film's premise in so much as it does so so poorly. It tells the story of a teacher who wants nothing more than to marry a rich man and get breast implants. When she is dumped by her fiancé she returns to her job in the same lackluster fashion until she learns that the teacher whose students score highest on the state gets a bonus. She then schemes to achieve this feat while fending off the goody two shoes fellow teacher who has her in her sights. The biggest flaw with Bad Teacher is its star Cameron Diaz. Although I liked how the movie was not about her character's change, Diaz does nothing to have us rooting for her character and much of her character's behavior. The film does have its moments as well as a fine supporting cast including Justin Timberlake, John Michael Higgins, and Jason Segal whom I usually dislike but does good work here. Reno 911's Thomas Lennon and Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet are particular standouts in hilarious sequences. Director Jake (son of Lawrence) Kasdan has made another comedy which is very funny in parts but again is lacking on the whole. Recognizing that making solid comedic films is no small task, hopefully Kasdan can fashion the great comedy he seems to have in him.
