Lean on Me

The plot has been regurgitated enough by previous reviewers, and several of the more honest reviews have been incisive and accurate in pointing out the flaws in the plot. I, too, had a hard time with the chaining and locking of the school doors; this act is such a flagrant violation of the fire code it is laughable and puts the safety of hundreds of students at risk. Also, the speech Clark gives where he blames the faculty for the failure of the students (in front of the student body, no less) is offensive and disrespectful and totally ignores a more important problem altogether: the total unwillingness of many parents to take responsibility for their failings as parents and for the acts of their children. And I truly doubt Clark could get by with expelling three hundred students and face the wrath of a small group of angry parents led by what can only be described as a cruel stereotype: the loud-mouthed, trouble-making, liberal-minded, white and authority-hating ghetto mother, played by the late, wonderful character actress Lynne Thigpen. (Even she struggles with this dreadful role.) And the entire student body rallying to Clark's defense when his irresponsible actions finally catch up with him? Laughable, to say the least. But I have to disagree with the reviewer who characterized the story as a "liberalization" of what really happened. If anything, Clark's tough-love approach to running the school is extremely conservative in nature, and many of his educational tactics are reminiscent of G.W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" educational programs, which is the main reason Thigpen and the other parents fight him as hard as they do.

But as I said up front, the film is definitely entertaining if it isn't taken too seriously. Director John G. Avildsen approaches the material in the typical crowd-pleasing, underdogs-win-in-the-end-so-let's-have-a-good-cry manner, which is effective until fifteen minutes after the film is over and you kick yourself in the butt for being manipulated. And the supporting cast is stellar, including Robert Guillaume, Beverly Todd (as the beleagured vice principle) and Michael Beach. And the wonderful Regina King has a touching two-scene cameo as a depressed, unemployed mother who no longer feels worthy of her daughter's love.

But this is Freeman's show and his incredible performance dominates the proceedings. No matter how ridiculous his actions, no matter how over-the-top his character travels, (picking up a baseball bat and declaring to the press: "They call me "Crazy Joe" now they can call me Batman!") he makes Clark believable and manages to pull back and reflect on his own shortcomings and accept criticism at just the right time to keep the character from becoming a total egomaniac. He is sensational, and "Lean on Me" was one of several consecutive films (including "Street Smart," "Clean and Sober," "Driving Miss Daisy," and "Glory") in the late '80's that made him one of the most unlikely superstars in cinema history.

Believe me, you'll love "Lean on Me." Just don't be surprised if you end up hating yourself for it.