Common Sense Note
A person who seems dead suddenly grabs another person. There's suspense when Leigh Ann discovers Mrs. Tingle has escaped. Frequent profanity, ranging from mild to extreme.The teen characters abduct a teacher and tie her to a bed, copy a final exam with the intent to cheat, blackmail, lie, and change grades in a grade book. A character drinks to the point of passing out. References to spanking and a "three-some." Mrs. Tingle has an ongoing affair with the married Coach Wenchell. We see foreplay between Leigh Ann and Luke, then see them naked but covered after sex. The captors take "dirty" blackmail pictures of Mrs. Tingle and the coach. A substitute teacher describes history in sexually explicit terms. Numerous near-lethal fires of a crossbow. Teens gag and bind Mrs. Tingle to a bed and talk of "finishing her off." Mrs. Tingle tries to strangle Jo Lynn. She also chases Leigh Ann and throws her into a wall.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Beth Pratt
TEACHING MRS. TINGLE, Kevin Williamson's (Scream, Dawson's Creek) first screenplay, stemmed from a mean-spirited teacher who told him that he couldn't write. The movie's original title was "Killing Mrs. Tingle," until the tragedy at Columbine High School made the idea of murdering a teacher inappropriate. Regardless of the title, this dark comedy will offend many parents and students with its biting portrayal of high school life.
Of course, some teachers are bad apples. High school is no breeze, and there certainly is pressure placed on students to get into the right college. But nowhere would a teacher as evil as Mrs. Tingle, who routinely insults students and faculty alike, remain in the classroom. When a student accidentally almost kills a student during his demonstration of a medieval crossbow, the cold-blooded Mrs. Tingle responds "Don't tease us. When you shoot, make it count."
One can't help but wonder why the acclaimed British thespian Helen Mirren would agree to be a part of this misguided teen thriller. She seems to enjoy portraying a Disney-like villainess, playing mind games with her inept captors. Yet, her efforts are mostly wasted, as the movie has too many implausible events and unanswered questions--apparently Mrs. Tingle never has to go to the bathroom, and why wouldn't she go to the police when she escaped?
Dawson's Creek star Katie Holmes and Seventh Heaven's heartthrob Barry Watson give decent performances, but Marisa Stauber outshines them with her hammy re-enactment of a scene from The Exorcist. Molly Ringwald, former star of John Hughes high school flicks, gives a noteworthy performance as the school secretary/substitute teacher with a peculiar historical perspective.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentReferences to spanking and a "three-some." Mrs. Tingle has an ongoing affair with the married Coach Wenchell. We see foreplay between Leigh Ann and Luke, then see them naked but covered after sex. The captors take "dirty" blackmail pictures of Mrs. Tingle and the coach. A substitute teacher describes history in sexually explicit terms. |
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ViolenceNumerous near-lethal fires of a crossbow. Teens gag and bind Mrs. Tingle to a bed and talk of A person who seems dead suddenly grabs another person. There's suspense when Leigh Ann discovers Mrs. Tingle has escaped. |
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LanguageFrequent profanity, ranging from mild to extreme. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoA character drinks to the point of passing out. |
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