Bad Teacher

As much as the advertisements would like you to believe that Bad Teacher is equal parts Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake and Jason Segel, don’t be fooled. Diaz is the main focus, and had I known that originally I probably would have been looking forward to the film much less than I was. Her character is a crappy teacher who struggles to raise money for breast enhancement surgery while ignoring her responsibility to her students. She makes it clear that she wants to land a wealthy husband who can buy her stuff. Enter Timberlake, the timid and clueless substitute who has no idea he’s being played for his money and looks.

I have to admit that this isn’t Diaz’s worst performance, though it’s actually a clever approach from the casting department. Since so many people can’t stand Diaz, why not put her in a role that is completely unlikeable? Even though the other actors have significantly less screen time, they each are able to provide some funny moments to make the film better rounded. Timberlake adds another title to his growing résumé, but this role doesn’t even make it into his highlight reel. Segel does well reminding casual fans who he is before The Muppets reboot later this year, but he definitely isn’t kid friendly in Bad Teacher. He takes part in what is now a cliché, the “let’s smoke pot and all of a sudden we’re friends” moment. I never find this device to be effective and it exposes a lack of creativity from the writers. The other actor in main support is Lucy Punch, who plays the annoying know-it-all teacher extremely well, almost well enough to make up for her disastrous performance in Dinner for Schmucks.

As always, the most important thing in a comedy is its ability to be funny, which Bad Teacher is. So ultimately, that one fact makes it successful. But beyond that, none of the student characters are properly developed and Diaz’s character has virtually no growth until she, all of a sudden, is a completely different person. A better script would allow for better use of the star power and less pressure for Diaz to carry every scene. (7.0 out of 10)