Review of Bad Teacher (2011) by Wild Willie N — 20 Feb 2012

The problem with Bad Teacher is that it just sort of exists in the ether between hard raunch and heartfelt. The movie feels like it's trying for the mean-spirited, unlikable protagonist comedy of a film like Bad Santa, but without the courage to fully invest in that degree of political incorrectness. But at the same time it goes far enough that it goes past the sweet-natured yet raunchy joy of a Judd Apatow picture. So the film ultimately feels like a soft cynical change-of-heart film. And while that isn't great, it more or less works because it has a short running time and a strong cast who are better than the material. Diaz works well in the lead role as a teacher who is forced to go back to a job she hates when she experiences a financial crisis. But it is Justin Timberlake, playing the kind yet naive model teacher whom Diaz sets her sights on, who really steals the show.

Bad Teacher gets a passing grade...barely.