That was an excellent one.

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

This movie was up for free viewing on Popcorn and I watched it because of Ryan Reynolds, but character actor David Paymer is the real star along with an outstanding supporting cast of child and adult actors. You rarely get to see David Paymer in a serious dramatic role, or even a sympathetic one, but there are no bad guys in this movie, which makes it a nice family film. This of course is Ryan Reynolds eight or nine years ago, a year or two at most after his success with National Lampoon's Van Wilder, a never graduating college student and party animal. So this turn as a committed and creative high school teacher Michael D'Angelo (Mr. D) is a 180 degree turn from the dissolute Van Wilder. Humor and pathos combine to make this an emotionally and engaging film that will make you remember what it was you liked best about your favorite teachers.

This is a very touching and sweet movie that is unfortunately quite uncommonly known. I only found it because I'm a fan of Ryan Reynolds and he did not disappoint. His performance is sensational, and he's not playing a smarmy comedy guy or the action hero. In this he plays a young teacher who take the position of a coveted teacher at a junior high who passes away. This teacher had won the teacher of the year award for over forty years and his son who teaches at the same school sets out to win the award and when this new teacher appears on his territory, he is determined to find out what makes this near-perfect teacher tick and is shocked by what he finds. This movie is like a lighter, slightly tweaked version of "Dead Poet's Society" because Reynolds' character, much like Robin Williams, is a teacher who uses new creative methods that capture his students, but in this movie, the school isn't oppressive and the students aren't miserable. This movie is an incredibly touching story in just about every way. While Ryan Reynolds is the only name I recognized, everyone gives a stellar performance in this movie and all the kids look like junior high kids as opposed to twenty-year-olds playing twelve-year-olds. The only thing I could think of that someone could find fault with this movie is that all the kids are generally well behaved. There is some kids picking on one another but considering the horror stories you hear about junior high it could've been a lot worse. And maybe it's because I'm an aspiring teacher even though it sounds a little corny, I think in a school with great teachers it helps nurture the students and they behave better. I'd recommend this movie to any age, because another appealing aspect is they pulled this movie off without any sex, drugs or vulgar language. I'd especially recommend it to anyone who wants to be a teacher cause honestly, it offers a unique perspective and a great story.

This is the most disturbingly horrifying movie I've ever watched...scarier than Paranormal Activity...Americans might call it a sweet, feel good movie, I call it a film about a disgustingly creepy male teachers worrying psycho stalker obsession with latent homosexual undertones about another male teacher...only good thing about it is the hotness and sexiness of Ryan Reynolds... A school teacher becomes obsessively hatefully competitive with the character of Ryan Reynolds so much so that he shakes and twitches at the mere mention of his name, stalks him, does everything in his power to jeopardise his career and then in the end he decides that in fact he adores this guy, so much so that it could be called an equally obsessive and unhealthy fixation on him, to the point where he imitates his behaviour and teaching techniques and tries to sound like him...scarier than Paranormal Activity cos you know, obsessive psychopaths like that really exist...disturbing, horrifying and awful...I can't believe Americans think this is a sweet movie...

Ryan Reynolds goes "PG" rated and the results are an OK family flick. This film is certainly no "Van Wilder". I believe the fans of his more outrageous movies will probably be disappointed. David Paymer carries the film as the at first combative, and later understanding rival teacher. "School of Life" is definitely a message movie, clearly defining what interests the students, and what does not. Of course Ryan Reynolds methods are a reality stretch, but the point is made. As a heartwarming tale this only marginally succeeds, because everything is telegraphed, such as the final basketball game. It is what it is, plain vanilla fluff. - MERK