The Substitute 2: School's Out (1998) (TV)

Director:

Steven Pearl

Writers (WGA):

Roy Frumkes (characters) &
Rocco Simonelli (characters) ...

Release Date:

3 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Plot:

Professional mercenary Karl Thomasson arrives in Brooklyn to attend the funeral of his brother Randall...

Plot Keywords:

High School | Gang | Product Placement | Janitor | Brooklyn New York City

Cast

Treat Williams	...	Karl Thomasson
Edoardo Ballerini	...	Danny Bramson
Christopher Cousins	...	Randall Thomasson
Chuck Jeffreys	...	Willy
Susan May Pratt	...	Anya Thomasson
Michael Michele	...	Kara Lavelle
Owen Stadele	...	Joel
Larry Gilliard Jr.	...	Dontae
Camille Gaston	...	Keyshawn
Eugene Byrd	...	Mase
Angel David	...	Joey 6
B.D. Wong	...	Warren Drummond
Daryl Edwards	...	Johnny Bartee
Antonio David Lyons	...	Sodaboy (as Antonio Lyons)
Paul Lazar	...	Mack Weathers

Also Known As:

The Substitute II
The Substitute: Out of Siberia

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:18 | Germany:18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Dinamo Entertainment

Trivia:

What ties this movie to the previous one is the presence of Joey 6, and Thomasson's mentioning Shale when he meets Joey 6.

Goofs:

Factual errors: As Karl and Danny face the Hoods, Karl tels the Hoods to look at their chests so they can see the infra-red lights from the scopes. Infra-red scopes don't work that way (you do see a red dot but only through the scope and not on the target) but laser sights do mark their targets that way.

Quotes:

Joey 6: [Watching Randall's daughter enter a car] Smart money says the real action's in the car with the boyfriend.
Karl Thomasson: [Deadpan] I think the smart money should shut up.

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Mommy

The hall monitor...

Treat Williams stars as a mercenary who fills in for his brother after said brother is murdered, along the way he finds that all blame points to Drummond (B.D Wong) but Williams' elaborate plan to teach and kickbox his students is put into full effect when Drummond's men find out about him and decide to kill him. Believe it or not I preferred this sequel to the original, only due to the faster pace and a more likable hero in Treat Williams. Williams is one of those versatile actors who can convince in action and convince in the role of being human. Treat Williams acts much like how a real teacher in real life would plus he seems willing to negotiate and make amends for his actions. Such as the scene where Williams offers to pay for the kid's radio that he threw out the radio. There are many good scenes that are quite well acted such as when Williams talks to the class and in all seriousness it works better than the original. Also another element I like is how the action is more under control and the movie develops a more serious take on the plot. Although the one line of which Williams says "I've killed before but I try to not like it, so this is going to be a new experience for me" Is a howler. This makes the movie far more enjoyable than sequels usually are.

* * 1/2 out of 4-(Pretty good)