Plot
The story of a girl who is willing to do anything to become Valedictorian, even if it means murdering the teacher that stands in her way.
Release Year: 1999
Rating: 5.1/10 (12,125 voted)
Critic's Score: 35/100
Director:
Kevin Williamson
Stars: Helen Mirren, Marisa Coughlan, Katie Holmes
Storyline Leanne is salutatorian when she needs to be valedictorian to get her scholarship to Harvard. The only class she is worse than the leader in is history, taught by Mrs. Tingle, and the teacher hates her. When an attempt to get ahead in Mrs. Tingle's class goes awry, mayhem ensues and friendships, loyalties and trust are tested by the teacher's intricate mind-games.
Cast: Helen Mirren
-
Mrs. Tingle
Katie Holmes
-
Leigh Ann Watson
Jeffrey Tambor
-
Coach Wenchell
Barry Watson
-
Luke Churner
Marisa Coughlan
-
Jo Lynn Jordan
Liz Stauber
-
Trudie Tucker
Michael McKean
-
Principal Potter
Molly Ringwald
-
Miss Banks
Vivica A. Fox
-
Miss Gold
John Patrick White
-
Brian Berry
Robert Gant
-
Professor
Harvey Silver
-
Roger
Taglines:
This summer, the teacher from hell is about to get taught a lesson
Filming Locations: Culver City High School - 4401 Elenda Street, Culver City, California, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $13,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $3,326,870
(USA)
(22 August 1999)
(1710 Screens)
Gross: $8,946,237
(USA)
(3 October 1999)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
In the scene where Ms. Banks is subbing for Mrs. Tingle she tells the class that "Josephine was just a little slut-bag whore, who was leaving her panties all around town." This is very similar to a line from another Kevin Williamson movie, _Scream (1996)_. In Scream, Billy tells Sydney that her mother "was a slut-bag whore who flashed her shit all over town".
Goofs:
Continuity:
When we first see the principal of the school standing on the front steps of the school, he has a coffee mug in his right hand. He moves the mug to his left hand but after a cut, the mug has jumped back into his right hand.
Quotes: Luke Churner:
This feels very strange.
User Review
So, did they exactly teach Mrs. Tingle anything?
Rating: 7/10
Teaching Mrs. Tingle, this was the movie I saw multiple times on HBO
when it was released in 1999 and I couldn't get enough of this movie. I
absolutely loved it, I think because I was graduating Jr. high at the
time, I actually expected high school to be like this. True, it was a
bit far fetched at the time, but still it was a lot of fun to watch.
Who didn't fantasize about treating a teacher like this in high school,
the one who absolutely gives you a hard time for no reason and just
won't lighten up on you? OK, granted I don't think we wanted to play
"Mistress of Pain" by tying our teachers up, but still it was a fun
idea and this is just a fun movie to watch.
Leigh Ann is a high school student who wants to achieve top grades to
become valedictorian. However, her grade in History class is threatened
by her sadistic teacher, Mrs. Tingle. Mrs. Tingle has a special dislike
for Leigh Ann and down-grades Leigh Ann's well-designed project. The
teacher also stumbles upon Leigh Ann with the final exam, which had
been stolen and planted in Leigh Ann's backpack without her knowing,
and threatens to have her expelled for it. Leigh Ann and her two
friends, Luke and Jo Lynn, head to Mrs. Tingle's house that night and
try to convince the teacher that Leigh Ann is innocent. Mrs. Tingle,
however, does not listen. They try to grab Mrs. Tingle and she is
accidentally knocked unconscious. The students panic and tie Mrs.
Tingle to her bed. Pretending to be Mrs. Tingle, Jo Lynn calls the
school the next morning and feigns illness in order to buy themselves
some time, but all are unsure of what they should do next. Mrs. Tingle
eventually reveals that she hates Leigh Ann because Leigh Ann has the
potential to leave their small town and experience life, but her
honesty only furthers her captors' dislike of her. She also opines that
Leigh Ann has not got the guts to do anything that will get her in
trouble; you know that that's not a good thing to say to the goodie
goodie who needs adventure.
While the movie has a bit of an unbelievable plot, it's just a nice
escape and a good movie. It was funny, witty and intelligent. I loved
Helen Merrin in this movie, she was just awesome as Mrs. Tingle,
couldn't have been a better villain and was someone that you just loved
to hate. Katie Holmes actually held herself up well and had good
chemistry with then hottie of the day Barry Watson. The cast all
together had good chemistry. To be honest I'm surprised this movie
didn't get much notice after it's release, who knows if it might be a
cult classic somewhere down the line, but I think it's a fun movie and
if you get the chance to watch it, I'd suggest you take advantage.
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