The Substitute

A wittily scripted high-school movie with a substitute teacher from hell. This cheerful 20-minute comedy is a breezily energetic batch of silliness and strangely sad pathos.

The substitute of the title is a delirious, rictus-grinning comic creation. Mixing Jerry Lewis with Bruce Campbell - whipping the students into shape brashly and not without some serious style. Immediately confiscating a ball signed by a star from the fat kid and making the students make fools of themselves for better grades.

A delightful twist turns the table on the demon substitute, but I wouldn't want to give it away.