This undemanding comedy has some good moments, but in the end, it's a forgettable film. This movie certainly was fun at times, but the story was ordinary and not particularly original. The reasonably well-known cast does a pretty good job, but the script didn't provide them with an abundance of good material. So, I suppose this is a decent choice the next time that you want to see a film, but I still urge you to look for something better.
12 Reviews
A good movie that every high school teenage boy with a fantasy of an older woman can relate to.
Brian-27217 January 2001
This movie holds true to many people remember those high school days in which many of us teenage boys had a crush on certain female teachers we liked. Change it some put yourself in the shoes of a struggling calculus student who has his tough teacher climbing his neck and dreams of a college scholarship about to go in flames. Never fear an accident meeting with the sexy Tia Carrere who later turns out to be his teacher's wife! Not only does Tia take the young student through winning calculus training but a passionate romance develops. Only when the student has his teacher find out it all ends and a life lesson is learned and back to normal life. This movie shows that our fantasies can come true but they don't last and we must live our basic life. I watched this movie on USA one night late though it's not a great movie it's good due to the story and the beautiful Tia Carrere.
A Fun and Thoughtful Film,the Best Teen Comedy I Have Seen
luke-3114 January 2001
Are you tired of all those boring,stupid,and completly insipid movies about teenagers? I know I am. But I wholeheartedly recommend "My Teacher's Wife", which is a sweet little slice-of life tale about a high school senior (well played by Jason London, in the best performance he has ever given.), who falls in love with the wife (Tia Carrere) of his calculas teacher (a wonderfully detestable Christopher Mc Donald.)
It may sound trashy,but it is excellently done and very insightful on friendship and matters of the heart.I think this movie is an underrated gem and the best teen comedy I have ever seen.
It may sound trashy,but it is excellently done and very insightful on friendship and matters of the heart.I think this movie is an underrated gem and the best teen comedy I have ever seen.
The title says it all
pinkybanana200026 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
****CONTAINS SPOILERS****
Any imaginative viewer could create the entire movie based on the title alone. Todd has a crush on his attractive math tutor, played by Tia Carrere who is to acting what candy sprinkles are to a cupcake: they don't add much except the aesthetics. You are waiting for the moment when she goes au naturel, after which you turn off the movie and go to sleep. There wasn't much after that, not that there was much before that to begin with, in that it doesn't really deliver on that premise of the suggestive title. If you had your Vaseline ready, you'd be disappointed.
The best scene for me was the soccer scene where his friend Faber is the incomparably inept goalkeeper. It was an actually funny stretch.
You wonder why he ditches his equally attractive girlfriend to bed his married tutor, considering how bad things could get and did get. For good measure, his dreams of going to Harvard never materialize. Karma, maybe? Oh, I can suggest a title for the sequel, "My teacher's wife's even hotter teenage sister."
Any imaginative viewer could create the entire movie based on the title alone. Todd has a crush on his attractive math tutor, played by Tia Carrere who is to acting what candy sprinkles are to a cupcake: they don't add much except the aesthetics. You are waiting for the moment when she goes au naturel, after which you turn off the movie and go to sleep. There wasn't much after that, not that there was much before that to begin with, in that it doesn't really deliver on that premise of the suggestive title. If you had your Vaseline ready, you'd be disappointed.
The best scene for me was the soccer scene where his friend Faber is the incomparably inept goalkeeper. It was an actually funny stretch.
You wonder why he ditches his equally attractive girlfriend to bed his married tutor, considering how bad things could get and did get. For good measure, his dreams of going to Harvard never materialize. Karma, maybe? Oh, I can suggest a title for the sequel, "My teacher's wife's even hotter teenage sister."
NOT a comedy, in case you were wondering
jfgibson7312 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This movie looks like it is going to be a teen sex comedy, but it really surprised me how seriously it took itself. It actually works to be a drama, and some of it is actually effective.
You can't really blame me for being misled--the presence of Christopher McDonald alone seems to suggest an off-the-wall sense of humor. But even he plays it straight in a story that has one foot in a teen fantasy, and several feet in Degrassi-style soap opera.
The plot revolves around a high school kid who gets a math tutor who happens to not only be an attractive woman, but the wife of his math teacher. His performance in the math class is given special importance because the instructor apparently had enough pull to help the kid get into a prestigious college. He ends up having an inappropriate relationship with the tutor, almost costing him two friendships and the college recommendation. The climax comes when he finally gets an admissions interview at Harvard and realizes he is not sure it is what he really wants. In the end, he learns a lesson and gets his life back in order. His two best friends are still talking to him, although he now has a platonic relationship with his ex-girlfriend.
I thought Tia looked really cute in this movie, but none of the performances or humor really moved me. I thought the Jeffery Tambor character worked WAY too hard at being senstive and understanding while still having high expectations. He made me squirm. I was especially disappointed that Christopher McDonald didn't have any good lines. I didn't dislike this movie, I just don't think I will watch it again.
You can't really blame me for being misled--the presence of Christopher McDonald alone seems to suggest an off-the-wall sense of humor. But even he plays it straight in a story that has one foot in a teen fantasy, and several feet in Degrassi-style soap opera.
The plot revolves around a high school kid who gets a math tutor who happens to not only be an attractive woman, but the wife of his math teacher. His performance in the math class is given special importance because the instructor apparently had enough pull to help the kid get into a prestigious college. He ends up having an inappropriate relationship with the tutor, almost costing him two friendships and the college recommendation. The climax comes when he finally gets an admissions interview at Harvard and realizes he is not sure it is what he really wants. In the end, he learns a lesson and gets his life back in order. His two best friends are still talking to him, although he now has a platonic relationship with his ex-girlfriend.
I thought Tia looked really cute in this movie, but none of the performances or humor really moved me. I thought the Jeffery Tambor character worked WAY too hard at being senstive and understanding while still having high expectations. He made me squirm. I was especially disappointed that Christopher McDonald didn't have any good lines. I didn't dislike this movie, I just don't think I will watch it again.
My Tia crush.
Son_of_Mansfield1 June 2007
Warning: Spoilers
If Tia Carrere was my math tutor, I want to study too. She is the epitome of beauty. A great smile, piercing eyes, long legs, and most important of all, she thinks of herself as just another girl. She isn't, but it's nice anyway. Much has been made of the sex scenes, but Tia was never very comfortable with body, until she was the Playboy cover girl of January 2003, if that's what you are looking for. This is a passable movie that isn't the raunchy romp that the exploitive cover art makes it out to be. Zak Orth is the center of a more emotional movie. It's that odd combination that brings the movie down. It succeeds as neither. Mute it and watch Tia, unless you feel more like getting in touch with your feelings.
The Exact Opposite of Everything I Hate
aimless-4616 February 2006
To paraphrase Thora Birch: "I kind of like this movie. It's the exact opposite of everything I hate in a film".
This obscure film was too low key and intelligent to get a theatrical release, any chance for success would have needed a costly promotional campaign. And a coming of age story where nothing spectacular happens - where instead the focus is on character development, has a limited target audience. Whoever heard of a mature teen movie?
But if you have an opportunity to see this or if you can part with a few bucks for the DVD, you could do a lot worse. "My Teacher's Wife" is nothing revolutionary but it has a lot going for it and holds up well to repeated viewings.
Jason London (as high school senior Todd Boomer) is the star and fits this character as well as his parts in "The Man In the Moon" and "Dazed and Confused". He is helped out by exceptional work from his supporting cast. Tia Carrere in the title role is a revelation (she can act) as Todd's calculus tutor and love interest. Christopher McDonald as the teacher in a nice self-parodying performance. Zak Orth and Alexondra Lee as Todd's best friends, and Jeffrey Tabor as his father.
As someone commented earlier, this is a "mature" teen movie because the romantic relationships are universally unsuccessful-at least by traditional happy ending standards. Even Todd's parents are indifferent to each other, with his father panting after the title character and his mother (Leslie Lyles) literally on the telephone during her entire time on screen (a device that provides increasing comedy relief with each successive appearance). The London-Carrere romance has unexpected charm and is far more believable than any other older woman storyline you are likely to find.
But the real strength of the film is the evolving relationship of the three friends. There is no overwrought melodrama here, just three immature people who alternate between testing and trusting each other, subject to all the dynamics that three young people can bring to this kind of thing. They actually manage to pull off a "believable" three-person relationship, perhaps the first one in cinema history.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
This obscure film was too low key and intelligent to get a theatrical release, any chance for success would have needed a costly promotional campaign. And a coming of age story where nothing spectacular happens - where instead the focus is on character development, has a limited target audience. Whoever heard of a mature teen movie?
But if you have an opportunity to see this or if you can part with a few bucks for the DVD, you could do a lot worse. "My Teacher's Wife" is nothing revolutionary but it has a lot going for it and holds up well to repeated viewings.
Jason London (as high school senior Todd Boomer) is the star and fits this character as well as his parts in "The Man In the Moon" and "Dazed and Confused". He is helped out by exceptional work from his supporting cast. Tia Carrere in the title role is a revelation (she can act) as Todd's calculus tutor and love interest. Christopher McDonald as the teacher in a nice self-parodying performance. Zak Orth and Alexondra Lee as Todd's best friends, and Jeffrey Tabor as his father.
As someone commented earlier, this is a "mature" teen movie because the romantic relationships are universally unsuccessful-at least by traditional happy ending standards. Even Todd's parents are indifferent to each other, with his father panting after the title character and his mother (Leslie Lyles) literally on the telephone during her entire time on screen (a device that provides increasing comedy relief with each successive appearance). The London-Carrere romance has unexpected charm and is far more believable than any other older woman storyline you are likely to find.
But the real strength of the film is the evolving relationship of the three friends. There is no overwrought melodrama here, just three immature people who alternate between testing and trusting each other, subject to all the dynamics that three young people can bring to this kind of thing. They actually manage to pull off a "believable" three-person relationship, perhaps the first one in cinema history.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
Astonishing - Plausible - Enjoyable
filmfan888813 February 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Tia Carrere was the reason I decided to watch this film, as neither the title, nor the cover would have been enough to make me spend my time and money on this film which goes to show, me and everyone, that a DVD shouldn't be judged by it's cover.
***SPOILERS*** The film felt like it was trundling along, not really going anywhere for the moment the awkwardness of Paul Faber (Zak Orth) around girls being almost too embarrassing to watch, and the fringe on the otherwise attractive Kirsten Beck (as Alexondra Lee) being too school-girlish to watch. Where those really fashionable in 1995?
The relationship between Vicky Mueller (Tia Carrere) and Todd Boomer (Jason London) was tantalising from the start of though! That first meeting across the lake magical. What a beautiful coincidence they should meet again just as he has behaved like a complete moron ("Boomer, with two O's as in moron ") in front of Alexondra. A shame really that we as the audience knew who Vicky Mueller really was. (Well the title did give that away, wouldn't you think?)
What really surprised me was the acting. Especially in the scene where Vicky gives Todd a metal version of his alter ego (the dog character), in the little white jewellery box. The actors really managed to recreate that tingling sensation of a first kiss point of no return for Todd and Vicky. A shame really that the film ends with focus on (after getting over Todd's fathers Harvard drive) his re-uniting with his friends. I could envision a whole new film following Vicky to New York there must be a good art University there that Todd could attend?!?
Nevertheless, a film that does just what we want Hollywood to: entertain us for the duration of the film. Did anyone else notice how none of the loves are happy ones in this film? Todd's mother is slightly insane (on the phone 24/7), his Dad doesn't find her attractive (any more?) Todd's teacher obviously is disenchanted by his wife and vice versa Todd himself enters into a wonderfully erotic & daring relationship which, however nice it may be, would realistically be very difficult to maintain (age difference, maturity difference etc), and Alexondra & Zak do not get together because Alexondra is not mature enough to handle a relationship (-> her reactions towards the condom, the cheating, Zak's advances etc. are all very immature, and often involve running away), and Zak himself, the poor guy is too much of a best friend/like a brother-guy to pull even Alexondra.
Mind you, good film though! I gave it an 8/10. Brilliant performance by the actors - who bring the script to life.
***SPOILERS*** The film felt like it was trundling along, not really going anywhere for the moment the awkwardness of Paul Faber (Zak Orth) around girls being almost too embarrassing to watch, and the fringe on the otherwise attractive Kirsten Beck (as Alexondra Lee) being too school-girlish to watch. Where those really fashionable in 1995?
The relationship between Vicky Mueller (Tia Carrere) and Todd Boomer (Jason London) was tantalising from the start of though! That first meeting across the lake magical. What a beautiful coincidence they should meet again just as he has behaved like a complete moron ("Boomer, with two O's as in moron ") in front of Alexondra. A shame really that we as the audience knew who Vicky Mueller really was. (Well the title did give that away, wouldn't you think?)
What really surprised me was the acting. Especially in the scene where Vicky gives Todd a metal version of his alter ego (the dog character), in the little white jewellery box. The actors really managed to recreate that tingling sensation of a first kiss point of no return for Todd and Vicky. A shame really that the film ends with focus on (after getting over Todd's fathers Harvard drive) his re-uniting with his friends. I could envision a whole new film following Vicky to New York there must be a good art University there that Todd could attend?!?
Nevertheless, a film that does just what we want Hollywood to: entertain us for the duration of the film. Did anyone else notice how none of the loves are happy ones in this film? Todd's mother is slightly insane (on the phone 24/7), his Dad doesn't find her attractive (any more?) Todd's teacher obviously is disenchanted by his wife and vice versa Todd himself enters into a wonderfully erotic & daring relationship which, however nice it may be, would realistically be very difficult to maintain (age difference, maturity difference etc), and Alexondra & Zak do not get together because Alexondra is not mature enough to handle a relationship (-> her reactions towards the condom, the cheating, Zak's advances etc. are all very immature, and often involve running away), and Zak himself, the poor guy is too much of a best friend/like a brother-guy to pull even Alexondra.
Mind you, good film though! I gave it an 8/10. Brilliant performance by the actors - who bring the script to life.
One man's opinion
Mr.Blini29 June 1999
Despite the risque title (it was actually released under the even worse title My Teacher's Wife in the US), this is a well-acted and entertaining coming-of-age film. Jeffrey Tambor is hilarious, Tia Carrere proves she can actually act, and Zak Orth as the socially awkward sidekick nearly steals the movie. If you're in high school facing the pressures of college or just remember that time well in your nightmares, you'll definitely relate to this one.
Intelligent teen comedy. Nostalgic slice of the 90's
fanorr28 February 2021
This movie brought back emotions from an exciting era, the 90's. I think it was the music. (Definitely check out some of the artists. One in particular is still at it today as a solo artist who works with his daughter in the band Daisy House.) Tia Carrere was at her most beautiful. The script built relatively complete characterizations. The actors did a great job of demonstrating people each dealing with their own issues in their own self involved way. These movies often resort to cliche, but this movie with it's completely ridiculous title, strives to present things in a much more realistic way. The gags are pretty good, but there is plenty of drama to go along with it. Needless to say, this story is a male fantasy personified. I would easily fall in love with Tia's character in a heartbeat....
Loved it
mr-4796212 May 2022
To be honest I didn't know what to expect but I loved this movie. I think it was a great romance and that's something unusual for me cause I'm not usually a romantic movie fan. Just wish they had shown if he ended up with her in the end. I think that would have been a great ending to a great romance.
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