The Substitute 2: School's Out (1998)

A mercenary masquerades as a teacher in order to enter a tough urban school and wreak his revenge upon his brother's killer.

Director:

Steven Pearl

Writers:

Roy Frumkes (characters), Rocco Simonelli (characters)

Stars:

Owen Stadele, Edoardo Ballerini, Christopher Cousins

Cast

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

Storyline

Professional mercenary Karl Thomasson arrives in Brooklyn to attend the funeral of his brother Randall, who was murdered while trying to stop a carjacking that has been blamed on the "Brotherhood", a vicious street gang led by "Little B." Karl, who believes there is something more to it, goes undercover as Randall's replacement at Lenthrop High School in Brooklyn, where Randall was a history teacher, so Karl can investigate the Brotherhood. Karl becomes the protector of Randall's daughter Anya when their lives are threatened by whoever is behind the recent string of carjackings, and the plot behind the carjackings runs a lot deeper than the Brotherhood, and the threat is a lot closer to Karl and Anya than they dare to think.

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Plot Keywords:

gang | high school | death of love interest | love interest | five word title | 

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Treat Williams, B.D. Wong. Susan May Pratt, Larry Gillyard, Jr. and Eudorado Ballerini appeared on the series, "Law & Order" in guest starring roles as well as its' spin off "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Wong would go on to star in "Special Victims Unit" three years after the release of this film.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Karl Thomasson: [holds up a yo-yo] what do you think this is?
Dontae: It's just a simple toy man
[starts drinking from a large bottle]
Karl Thomasson: To you it is. But back in 1500 in the Philippines it was a weapon
[lashes out with the yo-yo and smashes the bottle Dontae is drinking from]

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Lady Don't Tek No
Written by Born and Lateef
Performed by Latyrx
Courtesy of Solesides Records

User Reviews

Brainless and Shallow Action B-Movie

In Brooklyn, New York City, Randall Thomasson (Christopher Cousins) is murdered while attempting to avoid a carjacking. His brother Karl Thomasson (Treat Williams), who is a veteran mercenary, attends the funeral and meets his estranged niece Anya (Susan May Pratt). Karl decides to pose as history teacher to replace his brother at the high- school and investigate his death. Karl also teams up with the also mercenary Joey 6 (Angel David) to investigate the gang The Brotherhood that is blamed for the murder. The teacher Kara Lavelle (Michael Michele) helps Karl in the investigation and he is hired by the school. Karl finds violent and disrespectful students in class and protects Anya, while has a love affair with Kara. He also befriends a school janitor that is also a war veteran. Soon Karl discovers that The Brotherhood is using the school to disassemble stolen cars to sell and that the school's auto-repair teacher Warren Drummond (BD Wong) is one of the leaders of the gang. The school becomes no mans land.

"The Substitute 2: School's Out" is a brainless and shallow action B- movie full of clichés. The storyline (a substitute teacher comes to a high-school at the outskirts where he finds violent students and a gang) has been used several times by the cinema industry. Karl, Kara, Anya, Joey 6, Warren among others are one-dimensional characters, indeed stereotypes, and there is no explanation why Karl has forgotten his brother and his niece; or why Karl and Kara have a love affair so soon; or why Warren is a member of a dangerous gang. There are shootings at school and no police appears in the area. Last but not the least, there is no message for the students and only a revenge. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "O Substituto 2" ("The Substitute 2")

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 April 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Substitute 2: School's Out

Filming Locations:

Long Island City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dinamo Entertainment, Gun for Hire Films, Live Film & Mediaworks Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1