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Movies / On DVD / The Substitute
The Substitute

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The Substitute (1996)

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38 %
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Reviews Counted:21

Fresh:8

Rotten:13

Average Rating:4.6/10

Runtime: 1 hr 54 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Synopsis: When a teacher is assaulted by gang members at school, her boyfriend, a soldier of fortune named Shale, decides to take matters into his own hands. He becomes the new substitute teacher, and goes... When a teacher is assaulted by gang members at school, her boyfriend, a soldier of fortune named Shale, decides to take matters into his own hands. He becomes the new substitute teacher, and goes undercover to investigate the lethal street gang. Shale discovers that the thugs are heavily involved with drug dealing, and that the principal himself "assigns" their illegal activities. Shale, aided by his crew of mercenaries, sets out to clean up the school -- and teach the kids -- before his cover is blown. [More]

Starring: Tom Berenger, Marc Anthony, Ernie Hudson, Diane Venora

Starring: Tom Berenger, Marc Anthony, Ernie Hudson, Diane Venora, William Forsythe, Glenn Plummer

Director: Robert Mandel

Director: Robert Mandel

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jun 17, 1997

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The Substitute

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Washington Post
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
10/18/08
Andrew Pulver
Andrew Pulver
Guardian [UK]

This movie is a lot more entertaining than the Michelle Pfeiffer showcase Dangerous Minds.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
01/01/00
Barbara Shulgasser
Barbara Shulgasser
San Francisco Examiner

Mediocre action flick with an ex-marine teacher taking his gang-banging students to task. Don't bother.

comment Comment
03/21/03
Brian Mckay
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com

The silliness of The Substitute escalates as the film progresses, so that by the end there have been plenty of laughs during 'serious' scenes.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

What begins as watchable quickly degenerates into a no-brain action flick that produces a ton of derisive laughter.

comment Comment
10/09/05
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Philadelphia City Paper | comment Comment
01/01/00
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
Philadelphia City Paper

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
05/23/03
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
08/14/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
03/26/04
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Really fun movie. Twist on the "Dangerous Minds" scenario.

comment Comment
07/22/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

Aside from a lot of only moderately-satisfying violence, The Substitute comes across as rather lame.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
01/01/00
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
02/17/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Joey O'Bryan
Joey O'Bryan
Austin Chronicle

There's a certain amount of camp value to this over-the-top thriller, which might as well be called Rambo Goes to High School.

comment Comment
01/01/00
John Hartl
John Hartl
Film.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An angry, white, mercenary movie out to spill blood and beat its manly chest.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Keith Simanton
Keith Simanton
Film.com

There's a sense of shrewd observation throughout The Substitute that makes it come alive and seem quite a few cuts above such usual genre fare.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
02/13/01
Kevin Thomas
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Leonard Klady
Leonard Klady
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Because The Substitute doesn't take itself seriously, it's a great deal of lowbrow fun.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
01/01/00
Louis B. Hobson
Louis B. Hobson
Jam! Movies
 
 
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