Four educators muddle through another year at a typical American high school in this mockumentary comedy. Mr. Lowery (Troy Schremmer), Mr. Stroope (Chris Mass), and Coach Webb (Janelle Schremmer) are three teachers doling out knowledge at a high school in Austin, TX. Mr. Lowery is new to teaching, and has to deal with his own inexperience as well as a decided lack of enthusiasm for history among his students; it doesn't help Lowery that the kids quickly learn how to push his buttons. Mr. Stroope
has been on the faculty for three years, and is zealously campaigning for the honor of "Teacher of the Year." Stroope has enlisted his students to help him win the prize, even though they seem less than impressed with his academic abilities. Coach Webb teaches Girl's Gym, and despite her short hair and severe manner, she frequently and enthusiastically insists that she's heterosexual. Webb also insists on following the school's regulations to the letter, and has unusual ideas about how to make Gym seem hip and fun for her charges. Meanwhile, Mrs. Reddell (Shannon Haragan) has recently been promoted from the teaching staff to her new position as assistant principal, which has put a tremendous strain on her friendship with her colleagues, especially Webb. Chalk received the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Independent Film Festival of Boston. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
An unassuming indie comedy that just happens to be terrific, Mike Akel's deceptively modest debut is, unfortunately, as likely to go unrewarded as the thousands of teachers who do a great job with little acknowledgment.
There are still moments when the tone is uncertain and the actors visibly struggle, but for the most part there's a freshness about the performances that could probably not have been achieved in any other way.
This film meant to be touching, inspirational, and a behind the scenes look at the fate of people thrust or placed in teaching professions. Along the way someone decided to also make this a mockumentary, either because they didn't have enough money to make it into a real film or they were just lazy. The supposed funny
parts of the film would maybe work as sketches in an improv group, but in this film they feel out of place. The mockumentary feel of films like Christopher Guest are awkward and semi-realistic. This film was very guarded and up in arms, adding self-recorded messages by the characters in a confession booth situation reminiscent of The Real World. The protagonist was the starring attraction, as a first time teacher evolves from a tongue-tied individual, to a humorous and yet nurturing educator. Props also go to the students in the film, who were the most realistic thing about this movie.
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