Main Cast: David Paymer, Ryan Reynolds, John Astin, Kate Vernon, Andrew Robb
Release Year: 2005
Country: US/CA
Run Time: 110 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
A small-town history teacher with a decidedly different approach to public education raises the ire of a stuffy biology teacher who's looking to win the "Teacher of the Year" award in this made-for-television family-oriented comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and David Paymer. Mr. D (Reynolds) doesn't just teach history, he lives it; and his passion for the oft-dreaded subject is infectious. Though the kids and the faculty all love Mr. D, biology teacher Matt Warner (Paymer) views the newly arrived educator as little more than another roadblock in his path to take the "Teacher of the Year" prize. The son of wildly popular educator Stormin' Norman (John Astin) -- a man who had achieved the astonishing feat of winning the top teacher award for 43 years in a row -- Matt Warner is desperate to prove his worth as a teacher by following in his fathers formidable footsteps. When Warner learns a secret about Mr. D that could bring the newly arrived teacher down and place Warner directly in position to take the Teacher of the Year title, the entire town of Fallbrook learns an important lesson that can't be taught in a textbook. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Leila Johnson - Denise Davies; Shylo Sharity - Chase Witherspoon; Chelsea Florko - Heather; Jillian Marie - Patty; Alexander Pollock - Clyde; Chris Gauthier - Coach Vern Cote; Christopher Attadia - Brad; Bill Dear - Astronaut; Keith William Miller - Howard; Kimberly Paris - Susie
Credit
Sean Milliken - Casting, William Dear - Director, Edgar Burcksen - Editor, Jim Beresford - Executive Producer, Roger Gaskin - Executive Producer, David Williams - Executive Producer, Ari Wise - Composer (Music Score), Matthew Safran - Musical Direction/Supervision, Paul Joyal - Production Designer, Brian Pearson - Cinematographer, Rosanne Milliken - Producer, Jonathan Kahn - Screenwriter
At Fallbrook Middle School, the annual student-elected Teacher of the Year award is held. And every year for the last 43 years Norman Warner or most fondly called Stormin' Norman Warner has won the award. Now that he has died, the burden of carrying the legacy falls into the hands of Matt Warner, the son of the late Norman Warner who has always lived in the shadow of his father.
Determined to keep the family tradition of being Teacher of the Year alive, Matt focuses all his attention and efforts in winning the coveted title. But once again there is someone in his way, the new history teacher, Mr. Michael D'Angelo, but immediately called, even by fellow and senior teachers, "Mr. D". Young, funny, having unconventional methods of teaching and his uncanny ability to connect with his students he quickly wins their hearts, not only of the students but also the teachers especially the young art teacher, Ms. Davies. Now the most popular teacher on campus, Matt has no chances of winning against Mr. D.
Now obsessed with discrediting Mr. D, Matt soon forgets what it means to be a teacher... Desperate to find a flaw in "Mr Perfect", Matt follows D around town and discovers a secret the alarmingly perfect teacher is hiding: Mr. D has been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer and does not have long to live. Shocked by the startling discovery into realising his own pettiness, Matt slowly changes his ways of teaching and in the process wins the hearts of his students. When Mr. D stops coming in for work because of his worsening lung cancer, the students become saddened by the situation. Matt steps in to cheer up the student's spirits and leads the basketball team to a victory with a special guest appearance with 30 seconds left in the game by Mr. D.
The film concludes with three years having passed: Matt's own son is now in high school, and Matt is teaching a brand new year of pupils in his life science class. He has won the Teacher of the Year for the last two years, Mr. D having died from his lung cancer. The art teacher, Ms. Davies, inherited his car.
