Bad Teacher - Review

I rememebr school well, I'm not ashamed to admit I was a teacher's pet, a swot. I always got on well with the teachers and was never in detention. Though not the top of the class I always put in a decent effort, took pride in handing in my work early and happy when my work was used as an example of good work for the rest of the class. Now I never made the teacher cakes or anything, I wouldn't go that far. I used to be put off people who talked in class and blatantly did not pay attention or care, then seeing that same trait portrayed in films it sudddnely became funny, though I never adopted it myself. Now it seems the roles have changed and it's the teacher's who have their own lives outside the classroom and may just not give much of a shit.

I like Cameron Diaz, she doesn't really stand out for me though compared to other female comedy actresses, particularly SNL alumni Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig, but I have nothing against her. It's been a while though since I've seen her do a decent comedy film, I haven't seen What Happens in Vegas ( I don't really want to), and don't get me started on the Charlie's Angels films or The Sweetest Thing. Arguably the Farrelly brothers film There's Something About Mary is a good point of call but even in that film she mainly plays a straight lace, innocent-like girl of Ben Stiller's dreams, so for what I'd seen in the trailer for Bad Teacher there's was expectations that Ms Diaz would really be able to exercise her comedic abilities, and she does...to an extent. There are moments in the film where her character creates these cringe worthy situations all in the pursuit to attract the attention of the new rich guy played by real life ex Justin Timberlake, sometimes these moments are so awkwardly funny, they're biting your lip and looking over at your friends face funny, sometimes they just make you cringe. Diaz's acting in this is good and, moments of great humour, but sometimes it seems just to go that tad bit too far, not so much that its too insulting (though that may be the case for some) but too far that it seems a bit too far fetched, unless that is what the director is aiming for, it's unclear. Also there is never really any explanation as to why the main character is such a bitch, now I'm not saying there needed to be  a heartfelt speech two thirds of the way through the film in which Diaz breaks down and says her father left her and her mother preferred her younger sister or whatever but it actually bothered me a bit that there was no reason at all put forward as to why she chose her lifestyle, or what got her to where she is now. Just curious!

The rest of the cast are great, always nice to see john Micheal Higgins, Justin Timberlake is quite funny, particularly in the dry humping scene, the film's funniest moment, Jason Segel is slightly underused but brilliant as the interested in Diaz gym teacher, and gets the film's funniest line (in my opinion), the fact that Diaz is pursuing the good guy when actually the film wants her to go for the guy who smokes pot and has a very casual attitude to everything is interesting. Some nicely suprising comedy faces pop up in the film, such as Molly (in it for about a minute but hilarious) Shannon, Thomas Lennon and Phyllis Smith of The Office: An American Workplace. But the show stealer of this film has to be Lucy Punch as rival teacher Ms Squirrel who's so squeaky clean and over the top she "out funnys" all the scenes she shares with Cameron.

If easily offended and looking for something with reasoning behind it, avoid this film. It is unashamedly rude and awkward but for what it is it works. This won't be an all out smash but it has potential, it's just missing some depth. The fact the film doesn't want Ms Diaz's teacher to change her ways may or may not be a bad thing, but the film does seem to be telling us a few harsh truths, people will judge you on your looks, if you're a geek/nerd you may well get bullied. This film won't really leave a lasting impression but it's a comedy to watch with mates and if you like the kind of boundary pushing humour, however it ain't no Bad Santa.