Bad Teacher: Review

Cameron Diaz hasn't exactly ignited the box office of late. Shrek Forever After aside, her two previous films, the so-so The Green Hornet and the undervalued Knight and Day both bombed at the box office, so she needs a hit. Bad Teacher could be the film that does it for her.

Elizabeth isn't very good at her job as a teacher, in fact she hates it and is just close enough to leave and marry a wealthy man until he dumps her and she is back in the profession she despises. Making her class watch movies about teaching while she nurses a hangover, she feels there is no escape, until a new supply teacher arrives, the son of a rich watch making family. Dumped by his previous girlfriend, Elizabeth knows exactly how to win him over...by getting larger breasts. However, with lack of funds, she is willing to cheat and steal to get the cash, although fellow teacher and goody-two-shoes Amy Squirrel has other ideas.

This is a role that Ms Diaz absolutely relishes and really gets to prove what a comic talent she is. Her foul-mouthed, debauched approach to life is perfectly pitched and she looks like she is back to winning ways again. Ably supported by a terrific cast, including a surprisingly good turn from Cameron Diaz's ex, Justin Timberlake, playing against type as the geeky new teacher; British actress Lucy Punch going for the award of most over-the-top comedic performance by any actress as Miss Squirrel and the star turn from American Office support Phyllis Smith, who is hilarious as a mousy teacher who is willing to follow whatever Elizabeth says but only to a point. More screen time from her would have been a bonus.

Only Jason Segel, as the gym teacher who is besotted by Elizabeth, lacks a from any real punch, mainly because it seem very underwritten.

While the film has some very funny moments, it is all a little bit too bitty, as if a series of sketches had been written for the same characters and then stitched together as one film. It also has some of the most bizarre editing. One stand-out moment is when Ms Diaz and Mr Timberlake suddenly are enjoying each others company in a hotel room but without no build-up and explanation, and it seems solely there for a gross-out gag and slight plot development.

The other problem is that it doesn't seem bad enough. Cameron's character is foul-mouthed and she is a drug taker and drinker but it doesn't seem to go far enough. You really want her to be as vile as humanly possible, like Billy Bob Thornton was in Bad Santa (no relation) and yet it seems to go so far and then pulls back.

What it does have, however, is a strange charm about it and quite old-fashioned in its values. Just when you think Elizabeth is going to be very bad, she redeems herself with an act of kindness and charity, which does make you...smile.

So not the greatest comedy ever but it has its moments and the performances are good enough for you to stay for the whole length and maybe, on the strength of this performance, Cameron Diaz might get better roles to put her back on top again.