SnoopyStyle Norman Warner (John Astin) is a long time winner of Teacher of the Year award from the students. When he dies on the podium, he tells his son and fellow teacher Matt (David Paymer) to take his shot. A new teacher Mr D (Ryan Reynolds) comes in and quickly is the most popular. Matt has to battle the newbie for Teacher of the Year.David Paymer is too small for the lead role. He doesn't have the energy or the fun to drive this movie. Andrew Robb who plays the kid is little better. Ryan Reynolds is certainly his charismatic self.It's more serious than funny. I can't imagine anybody rooting for Matt. He is frustratingly small. The style is low budget weak and without excitement. The good thing is there's a lesson here that hits you over the head.

edwagreen The movie boils down to the new teaching methods exemplified by the hip teacher as portrayed by Ryan Reynolds. We see the traditional methods played by David Paymer. While Paymer hopes to continue in the tradition of his recently deceased great teacher father, his desire to be teacher of the year is impeded when he finds himself competing with Reynolds.The film is flawed by the easy going way the classrooms are run in the school. If they had major disciplinary problems, they couldn't be this casual or lax. I don't want to hear from people that when you adopt the new hip ways by experimentation, your problems in the room shall disappear. That's only in Hollywood fairy tale stories.The film is a good one in that it wants people to be themselves and to strive for excellence.Many of the people in the film are cliché ridden. My favorite was the typical spinster math teacher who knew how to get curse words out.

jentilbury Can someone please help me find out what the name of the first song in the movie School of Life is. I have been looking for it for a long time. I've tried everything. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!! Here is part of the song that I remember.......always searching always wanting more, how do you make it why don't _____ it..... I can't remember all of it. But this song really touched me and I just can't seem to find out what it is.. I loved this movie it was so good I watched it like 3 times the first time I rented it I think I drove my husband crazy.lol. So help him by helping me find out the name of that song.Thanks

eddievh1 If you are a teacher you must watch this film. It is an excellent portrait of what a school teacher needs to have to be an effective teacher. As Mr. D shows, the most important part of education is connecting with your students, that way they are involved will lessons. They want to come to class, they want to participate, and they enjoy learning. If there are any other teachers out there that have seen this movie and would like to comment, I would love to hear from you. I am a Middle School Art teacher and have the same addictive art program as Mr. D shows. If you are one of the burnt out teachers that don't enjoy teaching anymore, please watch this movie. It might making teaching fun again for you!!!