Alternative Math (2017) User Reviews

Great short movie

[ivanmessimilos · 8/10 · 24 January 2021]

Haha great point in the end, though I didn't think it would go in that direction. People who educate children used to be respected but today that is not the case. A parent wanting the best for their child does just the opposite. In some segments we have become too tolerant, it is more important what others think than what is actually right. A child from a movie will never learn math with this attitude of parents and the environment. Just one question: if 2 + 2 = 22, then why isn't 2000 + 2000 20002000? 😆

Solid short, brilliant ending

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 22 September 2018]

"Alternative Math" is an American English-Language live action short film from 2017, so still pretty new this one that actually won a great deal of awards. It is basically a week in the life of Mrs. Wells, a teacher who seems to be the only one that understands in this film that 2+2 equals 4. Until the end that is. At 9 minutes, it is pretty short and still there were moments when it felt like it could have been a good comedy sketchs and half the running time would have sufficed. But the end makes more than up for it and worth see ing this one, even if I read people that she should say she wants 20,002,000 bucks instead and they have a point too. But I can see why Maddox went with 22,000 instead and it was easier to execute this way I guess. Another thing I liked is how it really is pro and both major American political parties/sides. The title does sound a bit like anti-Trump alternative facts etc., but the contents here can also be interpreted in a way where you would say it's against this whole third gender nonsense for newborns or against political correctness, which is never a bad aspect. And making a parallel between the very brief first amendment reference (maybe very brief to keep this from being too controversial) and all kinds of American court decisions and controversial topics comes pretty easily too. However, it's still possible to watch this film with your teenage son without any political talk at all and just enjoy it for the sburdity of it all. It's a pretty good achievement, a quality satire if you want to call it like that with decent writing and acting from everybody involved. I certainly think you should check it out and while it feels a bit wishy washy here and there and rarely achieves greatness, it is without a doubt worthy of its awards recognition and pretty entertaining. Go see it. You know where.

The most satisfying short satire in years - but stay for the punch line!

[karn · 10/10 · 24 June 2021]

I only discovered this little gem in June 2021. Had I discovered it in 2017, the past four years might have been a little easier. Don't let it drive you away early in frustration - that's just to make the payoff at the very end all the sweeter.

Short, cute, makes a point.

[Caribtony · 9/10 · 1 December 2019]

People here are reviewing as if they're on the board of the Motion Picture Academy. This is a short, quick film about different points of view and the extremes some will go. The ending is funny without over thinking. The acting is meant to be satirical. Made me laugh. Sometimes that's good enough.

Just about post-truth

[sedefozdemir · 10/10 · 25 April 2021]

This movie is just about post-truth as stated in its summary. It's not about teachers, parenting or political correctness. There is an objective fact and there are people who say that it is subjective. And since that fact is so simple and so well known when people say there can be different opinions about it, it becomes so fun to watch yet still makes you think.

As an ex-teacher, I can seriously relate to this film.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 3 July 2020]

When "Alternative Math" begins, a boy comes to his teacher about his failing grade on a test. Instead of accepting any criticism, the boy storms off. Soon, his parents come to school and demand the boy get a perfect grade. They are not only unreasonable, but verbally and physically abusive towards the poor teacher. Soon after, the principal arrives....taking the parents' side against the teacher. And, soon after that, it gets even worse....as everyone is angry because the teacher had the nerve to say that the student was wrong...which he clearly was.

In so many ways, this film is funny BUT also has a lot to say about modern culture and parenting....or perhaps the lack of parenting. Well made and well worth seeing...and a scary parable about modern society.

Very sad truthful majority image of the modern society

[mironin-2 · 10/10 · 15 June 2021]

Masterpiece. So glad nobody sued them for hurting feelings of any kind of....any person.

masterpiece

[Kirpianuscus · 31 March 2018]

My review is the review of a teacher. who discovers "Alternative Math" as a brilliant masterpiece. sure, for the performance of Allyn Carrell. but especialy, for the smart way to present the essence of political correctness, dictatorship of studedents and parents, relativism as essence of social happiness. a great film. for the precise exploration, in absurde manner, at the first sigh, of a real menace against school. that did this short film a must see. as warning. as parable. and as recipe of resistence against few "sweet" demons.

A simple math question triggers huge trouble

[satoshiwindow · 9/10 · 30 July 2022]

"Alternative Math '' is a short comedy film which was released in the United States in 2017. This approximately 9 minutes movie is about diversity in education.

At the beginning of the story, Danny, who is an elementary school student, gets an F on a math test. He enters classroom and sees his math teacher, Mrs. Wells. She explains 2 + 2 is 4, not 22. Next day, his parents see her and complain about their child's test grade. Mrs. Wells tells them that the mathematically correct answer for 2 + 2 is 4. However, they said she has to consider the possibility that 22 is the right answer for the formula. So, she denies it. On the next day, the president of the school visits her. He said she is too radical, and has to be more open to other choices. Otherwise, she will be fired.

I really enjoyed this film. The story goes on chronologically, and the trouble is getting bigger and bigger by the time. I could feel the same way as Mrs. Wells, by the gap with other characters in the story. And, this confusion captivated me. I loved it.

Don't Squelch HIs Creativity

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 23 April 2019]

Having been in education for over forty years, I didn't find this as far fetched as it seemed to be. The sad thing is that this kind of thinking will have consequences down the line. In a syntactic way, the boy was right, but had never had to look at two different views. The lynch mob that forms doesn't usually address academics but all the other ills of the world wafted on our schools (pardon my soapbox). Anyway, this is an exaggeration. It makes me wonder if she wanted to go to court later and make her case for getting back pay for the other moneys that she was "shorted." People keep using the term "political correctness." I don't really think that's the issue here.

very simpaly put briliant funny and shows a real modernworld isuse

[imdbmoviereviews · 10/10 · 10 February 2019]

The short film altrtogh presenting a very basic concept is very well done and astravagantely presents the poor american educetional system that is...

The accurate expression of Zeitgeist

[s-grasic · 10/10 · 15 May 2023]

A remarkable film that shows one of the reasons why this world is falling back into the abyss. In this age of formalism and false correctness, which is only an expression of cowardice to speak the right things and the truth, pseudo-educated self-satisfied parents make idiots out of their children who, when they grow up, will be ignorant people who will not be aware of themselves or the world around them. Them. On the other hand, not only education, but also all other institutions are managed by largely incompetent, and very often stupid, formalists whose goal is not general well-being, but survival in their business positions.

This movie explains why we shouldn't be surprised that school shootings happen.

funny film

[clydechong · 10/10 · 28 September 2023]

One of the best films I could recommend! The part where Danny said '2 + 2 = 22' reminds me of a popular meme where a kid says that '9 + 10 = 21'.

Also I cracked up at how the mother and father of Danny insulted and slapped the teacher 💀

Anyways this movie tells us that just a simple wrongdoing or mistake can lead to events, from small to big. Overall one of the best, funniest and wittiest, and most relaxing.

(a question, if 2 + 2 = 22, shouldn't 2 thousand + 2 thousand = 20002000? I mean that's the amount of salary Mrs Wells would receive if math was still that way of having multiple answers.)