Lower Learning Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Lower Learning Blu-ray Movie Review

Send this movie to detention.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 12, 2009

Are we going to learn anything today?

Imagine Bad Santa set at an elementary school. That's Lower Learning -- at least until the movie chooses to take the easy way out and falls into miserable and dragging cliché in its second half. Both on the surface and deeper within its weak thematic structure, there's no redeeming value here, save for a few scattered Bad Santa-inspired jokes that see teachers drinking and smoking in the classroom or pitting students one against another in a miniature boxing ring. The film relies on a few short skits to capture audience attention, and it works to a point; Lower Learning starts promisingly enough, if only for its abstract and attention-grabbing but ultimately far too reserved opening act that takes viewers on a sick and twisted but fun tour of a school scraping the bottom of the proverbial academic barrel. However, as many films are prone to do, Lower Learning sacrifices its originality in favor of a trite and predictable story arc and finale that takes all the air out of a promising start.

Lower learning from up above.

Geraldine Ferraro Elementary is in a state of disarray. Its teachers drink, swear, and smoke in class; the disciplinary system forces troublemakers to walk along railroad tracks all morning; gym class is held inside the boxing ring; the school flies a tattered flag; its Vice-Principal, Tom Willoman (Jason Biggs, My Best Friend's Girl) is burned out; and its Principal, Mr. Billings (Rob Corddry), is corrupt, swindling money from the system and using students as personal servants. Billings is scheming to close the school and get away with a large sum of cash in the process, and the arrival and subsequent report and recommendation of school inspector Rebecca Seabrook (Eva Longoria-Parker, "Desperate Housewives") seems but a formality before the hallowed halls are vacated for good. However, she forms an unexpected alliance with a suddenly rejuvenated Willoman, and together, they work to beat Billings at his own game and turn the school around in but a single school day to save it from certain doom.

To counteract the crude and lewd behavior of the teachers, Lower Learning attempts to craft some of its children as adults; these elementary school students use drugs, cope with a false-alarm pregnancy, discuss the ins-and-outs and pains-and-joys of their relationships, and deal with infidelity, all the while some of the students just want to be kids, pouring gravy on each other's heads and so forth. It works to a point and elicits a few half-hearted chuckles if at nothing but the sheer absurdity of the situation, but like the rest of the film, it all becomes for naught once Lower Learning plunges into oblivion and sacrifices its Bad Santa edgy tone in favor of a predictable and anticlimactic third act. Indeed, the somewhat energetic first act -- even if it does tend to meander a bit as it introduces characters and captures the plight of a school on its last legs -- is quickly forgotten when the tediousness of the "plan" to save the school is set into motion. Any semblance of spirit and originality are tossed and replaced by such clichéd niceties as the impassioned speech about the importance of education and why the school's going to make it (accompanied by the swelling inspirational music) and the obligatory kick to the shin as a disgruntled student shows his dislike for his principal's scheming ways. The final 45 minutes of Lower Learning feel more like 45 hours, certainly a disappointment considering the brisk, fun, and somewhat novel opening act.

Additionally, Lower Learning features an uninteresting visual style; it's basically a point-and-shoot sort of movie, but then again, this is low-budget cinema. Still, the direction doesn't help the film in the least, but when the movie is borderline unwatchable, a more spirited approach behind the camera might have helped things along. Nevertheless, Lower Learning isn't an incompetent or otherwise poorly-made film; it's simply bland, and like a fast food hamburger, it offers a passable but not in the least bit memorable experience, and it's about what one would and should expect of a film with an estimated budget of $2,000,000. While Lower Learning features a passable effort from Jason Biggs, it's his co-stars that do most of the heavy lifting. Comedy veterans like Rob Corddry and Will Sasso bring some spirit to the picture, even after it starts spiraling out of control. Unfortunately, the film's "name" actress, Eva Longoria-Parker, delivers a truly excruciating phoned-in performance as the school inspector; doing little but gazing about with a confused look on her face, she serves as nothing but window dressing in a film that needs more than a name and a pretty face to succeed.

Lower Learning Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Lower Learning enrolls on Blu-ray with a solid 1080p, 2.39:1-framed transfer. Colors are strong, natural, and many; green chalkboards stand out in every classroom, but the image is made whole by the abundance of color posters and clothing scattered about most every frame. Detail, too, is sharp; chips and scratches in wooden desks or dents and torn stickers on lockers are examples of the nicely-rendered and realistic-looking objects found throughout the film. Shot on video, the image doesn't sport much noise and takes on neither tremendous depth nor a terribly flat appearance. Various interior scenes can appear somewhat hazy, particularly in Billings' office where sunlight shines in brightly through practically transparent curtains and competes with the dark wooden furniture and otherwise low lighting levels. Additionally, flesh tones take on a pleasant and natural appearance throughout. Despite the budget price and under-the-radar nature of this release, Starz has given Lower Learning a surprisingly handsome 1080p transfer.

Lower Learning Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Lower Learning earns a middling grade in the audio department thanks to the inclusion of a lowly Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. No lossless or uncompressed options are available. Music delivery is solid if not somewhat underwhelming; it can feel cramped, confined to the center channel and without much extension in the front right and left -- not to mention back -- speakers. Minor ambience is rather pleasant; chirping birds and passing traffic add a bit of spice to outdoor scenes, though again, they remain focused across the front without engendering a sense of true engulfment. Dialogue reproduction is sound in every scene. Frankly, that's about all there is to this one. It's a dialogue-heavy Comedy, and while the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is a suitable choice, it's still a disappointment that there's no better option, particularly considering the film's runtime and total lack of extras freeing up extra space on the disc.

Lower Learning Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray of Lower Learning features no extras, not even a menu, and chapter stops come every 10 minutes, on the button.

Lower Learning Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lower Learning aims high but crashes and burns under the absurdity of its cliché ridden and groan-inducing second half. With stale but acceptable direction, hit-or-miss performances, and no redeeming value -- even in its crude humor -- Lower Learning sinks miserably into the depths of irrelevant cinema. However, fans of the film will be pleased that this Starz Blu-ray release features a rather strong 1080p transfer, but the disc does lack a lossless or uncompressed soundtrack and contains absolutely no supplements. Worth a rental for the curiously inclined.