Tentação Fatal

TEACHING MRS. TINGLE (1999) **1/2

Starring: Katie Holmes, Helen Mirren, Marisa Coughlan, Barry Watson, Jeffrey Tambor, and Vivica A. Fox Written and directed by Kevin Williamson. Running time: 96 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for violence, language, sexuality, and thematic elements)

By Blake French:

As rumor has it, Kevin Williamson, writer and director of the new comedy horror romp, "Teaching Mrs. Tingle," had probable cause to create such a movie. I hear Williamson once had a teacher who told him he couldn't write well, and now, due to his enormous success as such, he is putting that educator in his or her place. Is "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" an extreme telling of his feelings for that individual? Was Mrs. Tingle really the name of his teacher? Will this film be a bad influence towards today's high school students who have a hellish teacher? The answers I do not know. Although Kevin Williamson has written some efficient work in his time, "Teaching Mrs. Tingle" is not the movie to prove to his old teacher that he is indeed a wonderful author. The screenplay shows signs of knowledgeable structure. It contains particularly effective character traits. However, the overall presentation demonstrates just how correct Kevin Williamson's teacher was when criticizing his skills.

The film details the mishaps of three high school students, Luke, Jo Lynn, and the character in the spotlight here, Leigh Ann Watson. Luke is a slacker, caring little about his education or future. Jo Lynn is an average young woman with a crush on Luke. Leigh Ann, however, is almost a valedictorian on the verge of a college scholarship, hoping to dwell in a future of writing. The only thing standing in her way is her non-supportive, although loving, mother and the teacher known as the demon of her school by students and teachers, Mrs. Tingle. She is the person who is going to determine whether Leigh Ann receives the academic achievement award or not, because she is going to grade the history project that will be the final statement in her overall grade point average.

The opening scene develops our hero, Leigh Ann, a with little profundity. We learn of her successful history with her schooling experiences through dialogue rather than actions. Although to some extent this method of character development works here, in order for the audience to care for such an important character, we require more than what is granted. The dialogue is smart and audacious throughout the film, but even such clever words fail to replace the important visualization of Leigh Ann's past. This is very hard material to accomplish with proficiency; only a screenwriter with a firm foundation can exceed with this material. Williamson proves to be not such with the direction of his own script.

Mrs. Tingle's introduction is a completely different story. We experience through actions, motives, character reactions, and decisive dialogue how she is truly the teacher from hell. The audience loves to hate her cruel, devilish personality. This is delivered in an award worthy fashion by the great Helen Mirren, cast with perfect superiority and brings forth one of the most fun characters this year. Her character is played straight and, until the resolving but ridiculous conclusion, is never over the top. Mrs. Tingle is one of the most sought out characters seen in the movies in this year.

The story makes up a near flawless structure. The first act proceeds appropriately as we meet the first plot point, which concludes when Mrs. Tingle accuses Leigh Ann of cheating on an important test. This incident swiftly moves us into act two when the three concerned students hijack Tingle in her own home and accidentally allow things to get out of hand. She ends up being tied to a bed, blackmailed, deceived, and is even shot with a crossbow.

I think the audience needed more description of the side characters. In particular, the Jeffrey Tambor character, Coach Wenchell, or as Tingle calls him, "Spanky." He contributes an important part in the film, but is developed with such little significance, we really don't care that much about him. Obviously, the filmmakers intended to use him as a plot device; to fit the necessary requirements, once again proving that Kevin Williamson hit some major road bumps in his script.

"Teaching Mrs. Tingle" was first scheduled to be titled "Killing Mrs. Tingle," but Dimension obviously lost their nerve and tamed it down to something more appropriate. The film is not as bad as many are saying, and contains some very good material. But in the end, I feel Kevin Williamson needs to be taught a few lessons about screen writing. Whether it be by Mrs. Tingle, or his old teacher, as this film proves, he needs to go back to script school.

Brought to you by Dimension Films.

Teaching Mrs. Tingle could've been a well executed black comedy but instead it falls flat on its face. The first half is well executed but as the film moves on it becomes an utter mess of a movie. Kevin Williamson had about 2 and a half good ideas in his body(Scream,Scream 2, and The Faculty). His other films are just plain generic and it's hard to believe that something like this was written by the guy who wrote scream.

The premise is a nice set-up for a potential good comedy. Mrs.Tingle is the most hated teacher at school because she's, for a lack of a better word, a b#$ch. Katie Holmes plays a student who is trying desperately be valedectorian so she can get out of the town and history-a class taught by tingle, is the only thing standing in her way. When Tingle discovers a copy of the final exam in her back-pack she intends on telling the principal. when herself and her friends go to her house to try and reason with her, lets just say that get more than they bargained for.

What I liked:

Marissa Coughlan is a good actress and her performnce is actually one of the saving graces of this film. She posseses a lot of spunk and energy. Her Exorcist scene, while unnecessary, is quite entertaining.

Helen Mirren is suitably devilish as Mrs. Tingle. She brings experience to an other-wise mediocre movie.

The first half of the film is actually pretty good. The class-room scene in the first half is really good. Too bad the rest of the film isn't all that great.

What I Didn't Like:

Katie Holmes was cute in this film and she gives a cute performance but i'm tired of seeing her talent given to drivel like this. Thank God she followed this up with Wonder Boys and The Gift.

Barry watson is plain boring in his role and i found him to be completely uninteresting in his role

The ending is jsut plain dumb. It ends on such a disappointing note. I wanted a better outcome and i got this garbage.

The cheesy love scene between holmes and watson was so unnecessary. They lacked chemistry to evne make the scene sizzle.

Good idea wasted in tepid film i expected better from williamson in his directorial debut but instead i get this. what a shame.

5.5/10

First of all, Helen Mirren alone is worth watching in this. Don't take it too seriously and watch it for what it is - a late 90s teen romp, often pretty exceting, but also pretty funny, and you'll have a good time.

I will have to disagree with many comments on this movie saying that it was only a bomb. I thought this movie was quite interesting, surely not a great one, but good. The high point of this movie, in fact, is Helen Mirren. I was quite impressed with her inspiring performance - it kind of reminded me of Kathy Bates in "Misery". It is quite rare to see such a great performance like Helen Mirren's in an horror/suspense movie and this is the main reason why I have decided to comment on "Teaching Mrs. Tingle".

Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999) is a very weird movie. It was actually worse than I thought, but there are two hot chicks in it (Katie Holmes, Marisa Couglan) that made it heaps better.

I have to say Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999) went stupid at lots of points in the film and the actors (Holmes, Mirren, Watson) could of done lots better.

Anyway, I'll get to the point! This film is about an overachieving student named Lee-Anne Watson (Holmes) who is accused of cheating on her history test! Lee-Anne doesn't like it when things don't go her way, and she wants revenge, so her two buddys (Coughlan, Watson) take a trip to see Mrs. Tingle (the dragon teacher who accused Lee-Anne of cheating) and pay her a lesson!

This is not scary, its not that funny but it manages to get in the thriller combination.

My Rating : 7/10.