Well the 192 isn't happening. No matter! Today's film is Lower Learning starring Jason Biggs and Rob Corddry.
Why this film as a return to reviewing? Well in personal terms I had a brief spell of film apathy where even looking at a DVD case made me tired. I cannot explain it and it was difficult but I think things are on the up. Do not be confused though, it had little to do with this film. In fact quite the opposite, this film was so awful I felt that people needed to be warned just in case, like me, they thought "Oh, that's Lou from Hot Tub Time Machine." Don't think that. It's still true, but that just makes it even more upsetting to watch Lower Learning.
So here's the plot. Jason Biggs is the Vice-Principal at Geraldine Ferraro Elementary School, which is the worst school in the state. Thanks, in no small part, to Rob Corddry's reign as Principal. So when an inspector comes in the form of Eva Longoria, it is almost certain that the school will be closed. But when it becomes clear that Corddry is trying to sabotage the school for financial gain, teachers and pupils at the school band together to stop the rot.
Lower Learning is a very lazy film. There are lots of half-baked ideas floating around, unnecessary characters and sub-plots and the main storyline just gets more and more nonsensical until, at some point during the film, you will stop and realise that you simply could not care less about what happens to the kids or their ridiculous teachers, particularly the extremely irritating turtle-loving guy.
I have decided that the director, while making this film, probably just had so many ideas that he couldn't decide which to keep and which to ditch so we end up with a sort of scattergun approach to comedy. Jason Biggs is a teacher, but what if his dad was a cop? And he wanted to be a cop, but failed? And he also loves Eva Longoria, because they went to high school together? But she is some sort of drug-addict as well for no reason. So they should both join together and save the school because. . . well I think that's where ran out of ideas. Throw in an unfunny recurring joke that is unfunny from the beginning, no less than three boring love stories and a very stupid ending and you have Lower Learning.
The one good idea that the film follows through with is Rob Corddry and his complete abuse of the school pupils. While the classrooms fall apart, his office is filled with antiques and fine liquor. He fetches kids out of class to be his caddy for golf in the playground. The best moment of the film comes when he decides to make the school band follow him around and play at his command. But that is one of maybe three genuine laughs in this inexplicably dreadful film.
When I say inexplicable I don't mean "How is it possible for a film featuring Jason Biggs and Kyle Gass of Tenacious D to go so wrong?" I mean how on earth did half of these actors agree to be in it? And how did it get made? Did anyone read the script? It's not even as if it is driven by the kids like School of Rock and the actors can take a backseat. It's all up to them and they are all bad. Please avoid this film.
3/10
