Assumed this was a comedy when I saw Pfeiffer cast as an ex-Marine, but then..ugh. Is this what passes 4 inspirational these days? At what point does encouragement& incentive cross over into bribery & ephemeral reward? The answer is here. How low can the bar be set 4 students? The answer is here. Anyone who "feels good" watching students attain the smallest of achievements while still lagging profoundly behind is into as much short-term thinking as the true-2-life "tough, but tender" hoods here.

This probably isn't a good movie, and other movies with a similar plot that you would probably prefer to watch certainly exist, but I've loved it ever since I was a kid in love with Michelle Pfeiffer, and from that still enjoy watching it.

I don't dig either that the white chick come and fix thing just like that. More that kind of teachers to ghetto and everything will be fine. All points for shining Michelle Pfeiffer. She did the best she could.

michelle you are the only reason i watched this

The plot is so predictable and repepeptive of other movies, that other than the great theme song, and Michelle Pfeiffer that as always, is absolutely stunning, there is ABSOLUTELY not reason for this movie to exist.

terrible and what's worse, degrading. to have to bribe your students bc you dont think they have it in them to succeed? and all this hokey nonsense is supposed to make white people look less racist? just treat the kids as kids and you'll get their respect.

Who wouldn't improve with Michelle Pfieffer to look at in front of the class? The inspiring success of rare teachers (e.g., "Stand and Deliver,") brings to mind a major problem in education, though--they are rare. How can we "bottle" the talents of these special educators to deliver quality services to tens of millions of kids with about two million well-educated, dedicated, but otherwise ordinary people?