The Substitute

     It's The Substitute. That's all that needs to be said. It's not a good movie, but it's one of those that you love and will grow on you. It's kind of like Twister, the movie is bad but you love it anyway. I like this film because it has a great, unrealistic plot to it. Let's analyze it.

Tom Berenger plays a mercenary who is looking for work after a stint in Cuba with his team. It just so happens that his woman (a teacher at a school) gets kneecapped by a big indian looking oaf. Well, guess who takes the job as the substitute to crack the case of "who is dealing drugs?" You're right, it's Tom Berenger. He takes some of those homeboy bitches for a good ride to death. I can't really give out much more of the plot or I will ruin this masterpiece of a movie for you. But I will continue with this. It has great action when it is needed. You'll be thinking to yourself, "damn, when is Tom gonna kick some ass?" Then BOOM, he'll come and kick some ass in the next scene. My particular favorite is when he throws a couple guys out of a two story window. It's hilarious. It all culminates in the kick ass action scene at the end of the movie in the school. Guns, blood, grenades, drugs, and people getting their head blown off. It's so good.

You want to know the real reason I love this movie? Well ok. MARC ANTHONY. Yep, you're right. Marc Anthony stars as the bad ass drug dealer. And I think he does a great job too. Well, I think that is because I saw this movie before he ever hit it big in the music industry here in the States. If you know him from the song "I need to know," then maybe you won't like him. But he does kick some arse. Tom Berenger, for being the old fat man that he is, does rediculously great. You just have to see his performance. And the man who makes this movie as great as it is, ERNIE HUDSON. A blacker than black, beefed up Hudson does some serious ass kicking as the principal of the school. And there is no way you can forget about the little side role played by that alien looking man from Traffic and Boogie Nights. I don't know his name, but you know him, he looks like an alien.

The Lowdown
Overall, it's an OK movie. It's not good, but it's not bad. Good action scenes, good acting, and a good plot make it worthwhile. If you want to see young hodlums get their ass kicked by Tom Berenger (and come on, who doesn't?), then this is the movie for you. Or if you want to see Ernie Hudson all beefed up and acting like a tough ass, then this is the movie for you. Or if you want to see a bad ass Marc Anthony before he hit it big in the States with his music, then this is defintiely the movie for you.

Printable Version