The English Teacher

2013

A reserved, single English teacher comes out of her shell to help a former student realize his dreams of becoming a playwright in this warm-hearted comedy drama. Linda Sinclair (Julianne Moore) teaches high-school English in Kingston, PA. Forty and single, she's content to spend her evenings curled up with a good book in her cozy apartment. Linda's staid routine is suddenly interrupted, however, with the unexpected reappearance of her most promising pupil, Jason Sherwood (Michael Angarano). Having failed to make his mark as a playwright in New York City, Jason has returned home to Kingston humbled, and convinced that success has passed him by. Jason's domineering father Dr. Tom Sherwood (Greg Kinnear) wants him to go to law school rather than wasting his time pursuing a career in the arts, and the rejected twentysomething is about to do just that when Linda makes the decision to mount his brooding play as a high-school production. With haughty drama teacher Carl Kapinas (Nathan Lane) assuming the role of director, the Kingston High School stage is soon buzzing with activity. Meanwhile, as Linda embraces uncertainty for the very first time, she finds that in life as in romance, there are no rewards without risks. more..

Director: Craig Zisk

Starring: Julianne Moore, Greg Kinnear, Michael Angarano, Nathan Lane, Lily Collins

Reviews

  • Nathan Lane steals the show in this tale of a high school English teacher who becomes obsessed with a student's play.

    Claudia Puig - USA Today

    27 May 2013

  • Even the sitcom stylings might not matter if the movie were funny, but in spite of the potential for Guffman-esque comedy, The English Teacher boasts few surprises-except perhaps its message, which seems to be that selling out isn't so bad. Chalk it up to a case of “write what you know.”

    Ben Kenigsberg - The A.V. Club

    27 May 2013

  • The film's cutesy vibe is closer to "Glee" than "Election" or "Waiting for Guffman," with Nathan Lane's exuberant drama teacher pitching several yards of camp tent.

    Joshua Rothkopf - Time Out New York

    27 May 2013

  • The acting, especially Ms. Moore's, is solid. But her strong, sympathetic performance fails to transform The English Teacher into anything more than a sitcom devoid of laughs, except for a soupçon of literary humor. It is a movie at odds with itself.

    Stephen Holden - The New York Times

    27 May 2013

  • The English Teacher is a tragedy masquerading as a comedy and doing a disservice to both.

    Betsy Sharkey - Los Angeles Times

    27 May 2013

Awards

No awards