The English Teacher
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Metascore
42

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 13
  3. Negative: 3 out of 13
  1. New York Observer
    Reviewed by: Rex Reed
    May 21, 2013
    75
    Under Craig Zisk’s frisky direction, the entire cast is superb and wrinkle-free. The screenplay, by husband-wife team Dan and Stacy Chariton, is thin as a poker chip but as clever as it is contrived.
  2. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    May 17, 2013
    75
    Nathan Lane steals the show in this tale of a high school English teacher who becomes obsessed with a student's play.
  3. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    May 17, 2013
    75
    The most pressing question I took away from the film is, Are they really still teaching "A Tale of Two Cities" in honors English classes?
  4. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: R. Kurt Osenlund
    May 12, 2013
    50
    This is the second recent release—after The Great Gatsby, whose overwrought, on-screen text it even shares—that aims to channel great, time-honored storytelling without being able to tell a great story.
  5. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Ben Kenigsberg
    May 15, 2013
    50
    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.”
  6. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    May 23, 2013
    40
    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.
  7. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Jordan Hoffman
    May 10, 2013
    20
    Despite a lead performance by the always welcome Julianne Moore it is rudderless in its presentation and outright stupid in its central conceits.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. KatieW
    May 17, 2013
    10
    Cute, sweet, great acting. I love both Julianne Moore and Nathan Lane, so this was the perfect flick for me. I thought both of them were truly in their element for English Teacher… Expand
  2. TVJerry
    May 26, 2013
    8
    This is Julianne Moore's movie. She's in almost every scene and has the chops to pull it off. She plays a single, stereotypical high school teacher with no personal life…until one of her former students returns home with a play he's written. She takes it upon herself to bring it to the stage (with the help of drama teacher, the always funny Nathan Lane). There are other supporting roles that add to the humorous momentum (notably the school administrators). This movie is as light and predictable as a TV episode and some of that could be the director, Craig Zisk, a talented veteran of the medium. Although it's in no way memorable, this is a sweet little trifle with charming comic energy.… Expand
  3. BHBarry
    May 17, 2013
    5
    “The English Teacher” is an awkward attempt by director Craig Zisk (“Weeds”, “The Larry Sanders Show”) in his feature film debut as he tries ts he tries to relate the tale of a spinster high school teacher Julianne Moore, who becomes obsessed with the talents of one of her former high school students. Nathan Lane plays the drama coach/teacher who loves the play the ex-student has written and the efforts all make to have it produced. Greg Kinnear as the father of the young playwright also interjects his presence as this troubled film seeks to find its comedy/tragedy identity but never quite makes it. I give the film only a 6 despite the fine efforts of 3 very talented actors.… Expand

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