Blogger: Cameron Diaz Is Too Old for Latest Role

Have you read our Local Voices columns? Westborough Patch has a bevy of talented bloggers who share thoughts, hobbies and conversation. Each Tuesday, in our Best of the Blogs column, we feature one the Local Voices blogs that you may have missed. This week, we turn your attention to blogger Gary Kelley, who reviews restaurants, movies, and other adventures out and about. He recently went to see the movie Bad Teacher, starring Cameron Diaz, and here is his recommendation.

Bad Teacher – (2011) Rated R – Sexual content, nudity, language and some drug use

The previews for this film prompted some young adults (Lynn and Marty) and I to want to catch this flick, and the stars and moons aligned so we could all see it together. Making it a movie night out, we caught a light dinner and headed into the theatre.

Coming out, we had a split decision on the Red/Amber/Green (RAG) scale, with the guys voting together and the lone female holding her own.

What did this Cameron Diaz movie with LOTS of boobs get from the guys? Surprisingly, the film garnered Amber from the guys, with Lynn declaring it a Green. Here’s why.

Elizabeth Halsey (Cameron Diaz) is wrapping up her single year middle school teaching career after getting engaged to a wealthy boyfriend. When he dumps her early in the movie, she is forced to have to work for a living, reluctantly returning to teaching.

Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake) catches her eye as he enters the school for the first time as a substitute teacher (coming from a family of expensive watch makers.) Sadly, he is overcoming the loss of his “big hearted” (a euphemism in the film for well endowed) girlfriend, and another teacher Amy Squirrel (Lucy Punch) offers a tender ear catching his eye. In the background, gym teacher Russell Gettis (Jason Segel) begins to set his sights on Elizabeth, who hardly sees him because he is not moneyed.

Elizabeth, noting Scott’s desires for a big hearted woman, decides to pursue a $10,000 augmentation surgery, with one issue. She has no money. All bets are off as she begins her savings effort.

So where did the movie go a little off?

We’ve loved Cameron Diaz since There’s Something About Mary opening when Ms. Diaz was 26. She played the role of a dream girl in the movie to aplomb.

Twelve years later, and Ms. Diaz is, well 38. While we still want to see her in the There’s Something About Mary persona, the issue is she is the OLDEST of the main cast and seems a little out of place:

• Cameron Diaz – 38
• Lucy Punch – 33
• Justin Timberlake – 30
• Jason Segel – 31

Seeing her act like a twenty something when she is closer to forty just seemed wrong. At one point, Marty offered Lucy Punch (who can strike a remarkable look of a squirrel) looked better than Cameron Diaz. 

And since Ms. Diaz’s character is collecting funds for an augmentation, there are numerous boob shots throughout the film (reinforcing a perspective of women’s breast size for desirability.) Marty said, “they just didn’t have to focus on that as much.” 

Lynn, on the other hand, really liked the movie. She offered we were looking at this from a guy’s perspective and not from the woman’s perspective, especially not from the women’s lead perspective.  There was comedy, there was a little love story, and (spoiler alert) the movie ends the way you want it to end.

Diaz and Punch carry the movie, with Timberlake and Segel along for the ride.  The writers, Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg of The Office fame have crafted a decent script, funny enough, and without any good belly laughing scenes. We all agreed there were times the movie dragged in its 92 minutes, a little targeting shortening would have punched it up a bit.

So, since the RAG scale has three elements, after theater, parking lot, and cell phone deliberation, the Ambers have it. Lynn’s Green should indicate it’s a nice little movie nonetheless.

Bad Teacher gets a

       Amber Light – Use caution

About the RAG scale:

       Green Light – Go and enjoy

       Amber Light – Use caution

       Red Light – Save your time and money

The Author

Gary Kelley has lived in Westborough since 1994. His reviews are what he would tell friends, and are not an academic analysis.

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