Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow!!, February 18, 2006
Like another reviewer mentioned, I was also not expecting great things from this movie. But I was completely surprised. If you ever want proof how a relatively low budget movie blow away movies with a 100 million price tag, look no further. The reason is simply extraordinarily good writing, and a good cast as well.
The movie really illustrates how important it is to live your life the best you can, while you can. It's a similar movie to, but far better than, "Dead Poets Society". The story focuses on a boring, socially awkward junior high biology teacher who is very unpopular with his students, and not highly respected by his son. He has also been living in the shadow of both his father (who was the most popular teacher in his school's history) and a new teacher at the school with an unorthodox style that is stealing all the student's attention. The story focuses on how this man finally breaks out on his own, and turns his life around. Whether he acts like a jerk, or becomes the hero, you will cheer him at every step.
The movie is not perfect and includes the "nerdy guy gets the popular girl storyline", which is a cliche you see too often in films about school life. But you really have to nitpick to find the few flaws. Its probably the best high school film ever made, and a film you won't forget anytime soon.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Teachers: Good, Bad and the Ugly, July 9, 2006
"School of Life" is a sweet little dramatic comedy, full of things to laugh, smile and think about.
Dylan Warner (Andrew Robb) is a pretty average but awkward junior high kid. He has his classes, he has his friends, he plays sports and he has a crush on a girl who's way too pretty and confident for him (played by Shylo Sharity) But he's different from the other kids in a couple of ways. His grandfather (John Astin) is a teacher at his school, and so is his father (David Paymer). His grampa, Stormin' Norman Warner is a warm, popular teacher, who has won the Most Popular Teacher award for decades, while his Dad, Mr Warner, is a strict, stressed and uptight teacher of biology. One sad day, his grampa dies, in the middle of accepting yet another most popular teacher award. In his grief, Mr Warner promises to win the award the next year, to honor his father, Stormin' Norman. He tries to be something the students like, but being as uptight and strict as he is, his efforts aren't that successful. The winner of the award this year is more likely to come to Michael D'Angelo (Ryan Reynolds), - "Mr D." to his students, his fellow teachers and even his friends. He's a history teacher: young, charismatic and fun. Most importantly of all, all students under him all get top grades in the standardized tests. Mr Warner is jealous and baffled, why does everyone like this guy so much? Mr Warner tries to outdo Mr D, tries to sabotage him, follows him home, tries to dig up dirt on him. The only thing he manages to do is get his son humiliated in front of his friends. Still, Mr Warner keeps digging, and eventually stumbles upon something Mr D has been keeping a secret, and it breaks Mr Warner's heart when he finds out just what that secret is.
I'm a sucker for films about school, I really am. This film is really well cast, has plenty of laughs, good dramatic moments, and great little messages. At my high school, there were all sorts of teachers. Some were really strict, some were easy going and lenient. I even had a sports teacher who graded you according to effort rather than on how well you played, which was really cool. But there was one thing they all had in common, even if I didn't know it all the time, they all cared and they all wanted to be heard. Seeing this film, I have a greater appreciation for what they were trying to do, even the stricter ones. You can see, through Mr Warner's characters, how strict teachers really do mean well, even if it isn't natural in their personalities to be super kid friendly. It also shows how they can play to their strengths too. I also knew a few kids who had parents teaching at their school, carefully balancing on the thin social line and I think Andrew Robb, who played Dyland Warner, captured that well.
It's warm, it's witty and just plain good. Highly recommended for lovers of drama and comedy.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"School of Life" is Charming, Witty, and Fun overall., April 15, 2007
I had to say, I bought the movie for Ryan Reynolds; I love his work, and have seen some of his older things and quite enjoyed them. That being said, I didn't expect this level of depth from either Renolds's character or the movie in general, but you get more than you pay for. I loved it, and would suggest that everyone watch, and most will enjoy, this film.
-gary
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