Every caring profession creates a certain gallows humour; teaching is no different, so why shouldn’t teachers have their own version of M*A*S*H*? That’s the premise for Arthur Hiller’s widely forgotten comedy drama from 1984, which aims for the black comedy of the same director’s The Hospital but ends up with sitcom parabolising. That said, it’s got a remarkably young all-star cast that makes it worth a look for fans of Ralph Macchio, Laura Dern, Crispin Glover, Morgan Freeman and more.
The setting is Ohio, where the students of John F Kennedy High School seem intent of desecrating the good name of the school and the idealistic notions it suggests. The Vice principal (Judd Hirch from Taxi) is weather-beaten by the effort of keeping a lid on things, but the misbehaviour of his own teachers, specifically Alex Jurel (Nick Nolte) only makes his job harder. A graduate, who left the school with no reading or writing skills, is preparing a law-suit, and lawyer Lisa Hammond (JoBeth Williams) arrives at the school to investigate, only to fall for Alex’s salty charms.
Teachers isn’t a sex-comedy, and nor is it parody; it aims to be a state-of-the-nation, blistering indictment of the system, and unfortunately most of the gags and punches don’t quite land. While it’s possible that a teacher might sit dead at his desk while the pupils file in and out of his classroom, the incident doesn’t say much about the school other than it’s chaotic. Any notion of wider political pressures is subdued; the school, teachers and dramas all seem too generic to engage. Morgan Freeman’s appearance as a lawyer is a highlight, immaculately dressed and coiffured, a model of saturnine charm.
Eventually, Alex gets involved with the classes he teaches, taming a wild child (Macchio), trying to sort out the personal life of another (Dern). He flirts with destroying the system, but eventually chooses to throw his weight behind a lost cause. Teachers never hits the heights of Dead Poets’ Society, The Breakfast Club or Stand and Deliver, and lacks a comic lead, but it’s an interesting snap-shot of educational issues which have never quite gone away. And Mulligan’s history teacher, who involves the kids in creating elaborate tableau’s of momentous events, is something of a hoot, much like the similar character seen in Alan Bennett’s sophisticated British take on education, The History Boys.
Thanks for writing about this nearly forgotten movie. I agree, it’s nowhere near the best of the teacher movies from the 80s, but there’s something about it I’ve always liked. It’s very “of the era” in which it was made, and I find that to be an interesting snapshot to revisit now and then. Nolte is quite good in it, too.
Great comment, thanks! It’s a better than decent take on teaching, even if it pales beside iconic competition. Always enjoy Nolte too…
You did a write-up on this movie and didn’t mention 38 Special’s theme song??
That is an omission, yes. The music in this film is quite slathered on, and on the nose to be sure. Seems to have a rock rebellion feel.
Now I’m going to have “Teacher, teacher, can you teach me?” stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
Quite a lively song, at least on brand with the film…
I liked the message from the Substitute series of movies better…
Forgot about them! Tom Berenger in the first one?
Yep, then it switches over to Treat Williams (I think) for the next 3. I’ve only watched one and two though. 3 and 4 haven’t been available on prime that I’m aware of.
Something for the constitution, I guess? Access to all 4?
Should we be that specific? What if some insane director ends up making a 5th one in a decade, or does a reboot?
It’s a choose your own constitution, up to the consumer to decide how many they want.
Dang, that will make our job so much easier!