Bad Teacher Movie Quiz

Term Paper Information

• The term paper is titled "21st Century Literature From The Philippines And The World"
• It was submitted by Kim Kardashian, a Kahayag Student
• The paper was submitted to Shann Kardashian, Instructor of 21st Century Lit
• The school is Lebak Legislated National High School
• The location is Poblacion III, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat
• The submission date is May 2024

Table of Contents

• Introduction: Page 1
• Plot: Page 2
• Critique: Page 6
• Critique: About the plot: Page 6
• Critique: About the character: Page 7
• Conclusion: Page 8
• Citation: Page 9

Abstract

• The film "Bad Teacher" (2011) is a comedy
• The main character, Elizabeth Halsey, is a cynical, disaffected middle school teacher
• Primarily motivated by self-interest, laziness, and the desire to escape her job
• Attempts to win the affections of a wealthy substitute teacher, Scott Delacorte
• Highly inappropriate, unprofessional
• Has little regard for students or the rules
• Learns of a teaching award with a cash prize for cosmetic surgery and reluctantly competes with a colleague, Amy Squirrel
• Elizabeth's bad behavior has personal and professional consequences but undergoes a subtle transformation
• Explores selfishness, personal growth, and the complexities of morality in a raunchy, irreverent comedic tone

Plot Summary

• The story opens with Elizabeth Halsey's (Cameron Diaz) farewell speech, reflecting on her year in the John Adams Middle School
• Engaged to a wealthy man, the relationship ends due to his realization of her motivations. Elizabeth needs a job
• Works as a disaffected middle school teacher
• Consumes alcohol, smokes marijuana, and uses her time mainly for watching films and analyzing magazines for breasts
• When the wealthy substitute teacher Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake) arrives, she tries to win his heart
• Amy Squirrel (Lucy Punch) also pursues Scott
• Russell Gettis (Jason Segel) makes advances towards Elizabeth but is rejected
• Elizabeth learns Scott's girlfriend had large breasts and wants surgery, but cannot afford it
• Elizabeth raises money to pursue the surgery through manipulative attempts at raising funds
• The principal dismisses her embezzlement attempts
• Elizabeth decides to change her teaching style and intensely studies the material for the class's state exam to receive the bonus
• She steals the state test answers, impersonates a journalist to seduce the professor in charge of creating and distributing the exams
• A month later, Elizabeth wins the bonus and obtains her breast enlargement.
• She discovers that Amy and Scott are chaperoning a field trip and sabotages it
• Elizabeth has sex with Scott with no penetration. This is revealed to Amy via a recorded message on Scott's phone.
• Amy switches Elizabeth's desk and finds the evidence to suggest that Elizabeth cheated on the exam
• Elizabeth blackmails the professor to say she's innocent
• The principal finds Elizabeth's liquor and marijuana
• Starts anew as a new guidance counselor, with a kinder approach and a different attitude towards her coworkers

Critique of the Story

• Setting of a fictional school depicts typical student personalities
• Good performances from the actors, winning awards
• Flashbacks are helpful in making the story understandable
• Language is comprehensible but some words might not be appropriate for minors
• A major conflict is the rivalry between Elizabeth and Amy (in winning Scott's affections)
• Elizabeth's seductive actions towards the male staff member
• The film ends with Elizabeth contented with her appearance, without the need for expensive surgery, and a more focused approach towards her work.

Critique of the Characters

• The main character, Elizabeth, is portrayed as superficial and passionate
• She is portrayed as someone who is incredibly hot as a teacher
• Has the guts to tell her students about the medicinal properties of marijuana
• Elizabeth brings prohibited drugs into the classroom.
• Elizabeth continues to live her life, even though her fiancé broke their engagement.
• Still asks her ex-fiancé for financial assistance
• Despite being a problematic teacher, there is a hint of a possible altruistic side toward her pupil, Matthew J. Evans, shown when he was embarrassed in front of the whole class
• The viewers are left to interpret Ms. Halsey's personality and her transformation at the end.

Conclusion

• The film shows that there are various personalities amongst teachers, especially portraying the rare bad teacher, Ms Halsey
• Admiration towards the persistent nature of Ms. Halsey to keep teaching is shown
• Good teachers are rare and not everyone knows how to become one
• The film inspires the writer to also focus on self-enhancement and development