The Substitute (1996)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Robert Mandel

Writers (WGA):

Roy Frumkes (written by) &
Rocco Simonelli (written by) ...

Release Date:

19 April 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

He has a lesson to teach. And nobody's going to have a problem with it.

Plot:

After a botched mission in Cuba, professional mercenary Shale and his crew Joey Six, Hollan, Rem, and Wellman head home to Miami...

Plot Keywords:

School | High School | Drugs | Substitute | Gang

Cast

Tom Berenger	...	Jonathan Shale
Raymond Cruz	...	Joey Six
William Forsythe	...	Hollan
Luis Guzmán	...	Rem
Richard Brooks	...	Wellman
Ana Azcuy	...	TV Announcer
Diane Venora	...	Jane Hetzko
Glenn Plummer	...	Mr. Darrell Sherman
Sharron Corley	...	Jerome Brown
Vincent Laresca	...	Rodriguez
Maurice Compte	...	Tay
Marc Anthony	...	Juan Lacas
Ernie Hudson	...	Principal Claude Rolle
Beau Weaver	...	Janus Showreel Narrator
Cliff De Young	...	Matt Wolfson

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:R | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:18 | Iceland:16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Company:

Dinamo Entertainment

Trivia:

The movie was shot during the summer months and kids enrolled in summer classes were extras on the film. Free Papa John's pizza was served to anyone who would stay after school.

Goofs:

Continuity: Red-capped pen when Shale is first meeting the black teacher and the librarian in the lounge.

Quotes:

[Shale confronts Juan Lacas and his cronies in the library]
Shale: Ohh, I can't tell you boys how much I needed this.
Juan Lacas: When we're done, I want you to say 'I'm Sorry' 100 times.
Shale: Shh. No talking in the library.

Movie Connections:

References A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Always Satisfying To See Punks Get It

Even though it was kind of a low-class type of story and movie with mostly bad, profane people tossing the f-word around like it was candy, it still was an enjoyable movie in a lot of parts and certainly had a satisfying ending. Perhaps that's why it was successful enough to spurn a sequel (albeit, a weak one.)

Tom Berenger is good to watch. He's convincing as a tough guy substitute teacher "Jonathan Shale" who won't put up with the punks in the classroom. And, boy, you see the worst group of high school students I've ever seen on film. Tough to imagine kids harder to encounter than these slime-balls but satisfying to see them dealt with accordingly.

You have to love it.