School of Life (2005)

A new teacher squares off against his crusty competitor for a teacher of the year award.

A small-town history teacher with a decidedly different approach to public education raises the ire of a stuffy biology teacher who's looking to win the "Teacher of the Year" award in this made-for-television family-oriented comedy starring Ryan Reynolds and David Paymer. Mr. D (Reynolds) doesn't just teach history, he lives it; and his passion for the oft-dreaded subject is infectious. Though the kids and the faculty all love Mr. D, biology teacher Matt Warner (Paymer) views the newly arrived educator as little more than another roadblock in his path to take the "Teacher of the Year" prize. The son of wildly popular educator Stormin' Norman (John Astin) – a man who had achieved the astonishing feat of winning the top teacher award for 43 years in a row – Matt Warner is desperate to prove his worth as a teacher by following in his fathers formidable footsteps. When Warner learns a secret about Mr. D that could bring the newly arrived teacher down and place Warner directly in position to take the Teacher of the Year title, the entire town of Fallbrook learns an important lesson that can't be taught in a textbook.

Director: William Dear
Stars: David Paymer, Ryan Reynolds and John Astin
Production land: Canada, USA
Premiere Date: 19 February 2005 USA
IMDb - 6.4 (2376 votes)