Bad Teacher, 2011

Bad Teacher, 2011
Director: Jake Kasdan
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel, Justin Timberlake





Stage: Home theatre

Bad Teacher in short: When her wealthy fiancé breaks it off, gold digger Elizabeth Halsey returns to middle school: she's an awful teacher but wants to save for breast-implant surgery. She brightens when Scott, a new teacher, turns out to be rich, and she stops showing films and sleeping in class when told there's a bonus for the teacher whose class scores highest on the state exam. Her competition for Scott and the bonus is cheery and tightly wound Amy. Amy digs for dirt on Elizabeth who cheats her way toward Scott's bed and the money. Honesty with students seems to be her only skill. She ignores Russell, a droll gym teacher, who looks on. Will she succeed with Scott and get those new breasts?



Preps: hot thing in our movies. Am not really anxious to see it as I don't believe that Diaz and Timberlake could do something amazing, but am curious, so here we go.



Reality: This isn't the hottest thing you could see in this period in this genre. Cameron Diaz plays a teacher that acts as if she was taken from outer space. Which virtually means she hasn't a clue what to do with children while she's teaching (or supposed to teach them) something. At first, it's amusing, however, later on in the procedure, it becomes annoying and so imaginative, that I start hating the piece as a whole.
Unmistakeably, Justin Timberlake is better than I expect. However, he's still a singer and every time he opens his mouth, I wait for him to start hopping and singing like in one of his videos. My bad, i know, however I cannot help it. The role he has is so .. cheesy. Cheesy beyond belief. A teacher in male role that would read, talk, think like this one does? I don't think so. Some of the obstacles I personally see in this piece on its way to make it work, are definitely hidden http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifin expectations that this "bad teacher" has from life; perspectives about making your tits bigger and then the guy will fall (do you really want a guy that is so stupid that all he sees are bigger tits?!?); do you want a guy that will read you books you cannot bear to hear, or poems you don't want to be read to you?
The rivalry between teachers is a classic, however, in this case it goes beyond any serious perspective. I just don't buy it. The principle would never go that far in order to indulge some teacher. To have a teacher cooperating at a school fund raise in a sexy way? Maybe it fills the seats, but it's really unreal! Or would a teacher go this far to make the class win a state championship (here hidden in forms of formal tests). Too many weak moments of this movie make it extremely bad. Yes, Diaz can be sexy as hell and Timberlake cute as an angel, however, to make a good piece, this is by far not enough.


My personal rate: 3,0 (not really worth your time. Or mine :)


Bad Teacher on IMDB

No reservations, 2007

No reservations, 2007
Director: Scott Hicks
Cast: Catherine Zeta Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin



Stage: Home theatre

No reservations in short: A master chef, Kate, lives her life like she runs the kitchen at upscale 22 Bleecker Restaurant in Manhattan--with a no-nonsense intensity that both captivates and intimidates everyone around her. With breathtaking precision, she powers through each hectic shift, coordinating hundreds of meals, preparing delicate sauces, seasoning and simmering each dish to absolute perfection.

Preps: Mmmm, none in perticular. Zeta as chef? Need to see this urgently. Always wanted to be one. Chef, that is.


Reality: Hm. The world of chef is a tuff one. I wanted to (and I still do) have a restaurant. I have always wanted to have one. Always drull with movies where they cook. One of my best ones is Julie and Julia. Or see maybe also The soul kitchen. Superb. Anyhow, wherever parsley is being cut and beef or chicken is put on stew or on butter, here I am. I am bought.

In this case, a cute romantic rival story between two chefs, mixed alltogether within a family drama. Taking care of a small child or being a chef? A hard decision. Meeting your spouse inbetween? well, would love to see this turn out happily. Because you need to decide at some point what to do. OK, if you are a high flyer and are in the middle of the lauch of your career, and you get a new kid - that's a problem. Or a challenge, put it as you want it. The kid hates your guts, you are in the middle of mourning for your relative and his kid doesn't want you to play the mother. This is the world of Zeta Jones right when she believes she's on the breakthrough of her career. A good plot story and an interesting follow through in what is she going to do.

Spiced with exotic cooking, filled with taste and lust. For a soul that likes to cook the way I do, a beautiful piece to see. Nothing in perticular amazing about the cast, the scenery, dialogues. But I enjoyed the romantic dwelling in the kitchen and it definitely made me hungry. A piece I will love to see again, although I don't find it any more than average.


My personal rating: 5,0 (Zeta goes into this macho feminine chef pose I adore. And she cooks in the totally male world, and owns him. On the other side, it's pretty clear. A good career or a strong family. Never both at the same time.
No reservations on IMDB