Earlier today there was the trailer for “The Purge,” a movie that we didn’t know was happening because it was so far off our radar. And then there’s “The English Teacher,” a movie this writer initially mistook for “Writers” aka “Stuck In Love,” due to the omnipresence of Greg Kinnear and Lily Collins. But just like that movie, it’s another indie dramedy where good looking people can’t seem to sort out their love life. And frankly, we expect much better from you, Julianne Moore.
The feature directorial debut of Craig Zisk (“The Big C,” “Weeds”), its story follows a high school English teacher (Moore) whose life is turned upside-down when a failed playwright and former student (Michael Angarano) returns to town and she begins to fall in love with him. This movie would like us to believe that someone as attractive as Moore would be adorkably single, but that doesn’t quite work (realistically, she’d been beating off men with a stick) and all the wacky twists seem pretty strained and tired all around. We really like the people involved, but perhaps this is just a case where it didn’t quite work out as planned? You’ll soon be able to judge for yourself.
“The English Teacher” opens on demand and digital platforms on April 16th and in theaters May 17th. It will also screen at the Tribeca Film Festival.
