The Ron Clark Story (2006)
A passionate and innovative teacher leaves his small hometown to teach in one of Harlem's toughest schools. But to break through to this students, Ron Clark must use unconventional methods, including his ground-breaking classroom rules, to drive them toward their potential.
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Powerful
Boring
Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
It's 1998. Ron Clark (Matthew Perry) gets results as an elementary teacher but he leaves his job in the small town of Aurora, North Carolina for NYC. He wants to find a teaching job in Harlem. He starts as a waiter where he befriends Marissa Vega. Inner Harlem Elementary School Principal Turner (Ernie Hudson) dismisses him as being too nice but Clark pushes to teach the worst class in the school. The kids are disruptive. Tayshawn is a troubled kid from a bad foster home. Shameika Wallace is busy taking care of her 3 siblings. Julio is taking bets on how long the teacher lasts. Badriyah is quietly hiding her brains.This is a functional white savior teacher movie. There are some hokey stuff that is traditional to the genre. Matthew Perry does a good job with some slightly more serious acting. I love the kids most of all. Both Brandon Mychal Smith and Hannah Hodson show some promising skills. The story stays traditional and on the expected path.
Matthew Perry shines as Ron Clark in this wonderful film. He truly captures the character and his rapport with the kids playing his students is wonderful.Perry gives us as an audience all the elements of his personality that we fell in love with in Friends while also being able to show off his skill as a dramatic actor. He plays both the comedic and dramatic scenes equally well.Films like this are nothing new but it is the simple story behind this one combined with the charm of Perry that allows it to stand out from the others.It is a truly wonderful film that is well worth a watch.
Much of what Ron Clark professes is missing from this movie if you dare to compare the movie with what he says when he lectures. I guess one might say this is "loosely" based on a true story.As a new teacher of high school kids, I can't say for certain whether clowning around with 5th graders really makes them like learning, but I'm certain that when they get to high school and they can't read or do simple math, no amount of humor can overcome the attitude that years of social promotion creates. Hats off to any teacher that get these kids started in learning.As far as the movie version, Matthew Perry does not capture the manic energy of the real Ron Clark; he's far too adult and restrained. Clark is a whirlwind; a person you can't quite believe is real. Clark literally sweeps people along with his personal energy while talking a mile a minute. Perry just doesn't get it. His scenes with children are unbelievable, because they are too easily won over. Now if he'd only known karate, he'd of had them at "hello" or so says Hollywood.I gave this film a 5, because its message that all children can learn is inspirational. A far better recent film is "Stand and Deliver"(1988), but the reason I'm a teacher is because of movies like "Good Morning, Miss Dove"(1955) and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1939).
I went to North Side High School with Ron. He is an nice guy who is very passionate about life and teaching. Last time I went back home, my father showed me an article in the Beaufort County newspaper about Ron and I was very proud of him. It is nice to see a movie about someone from my hometown and high school portraying his achievements and successes. Matthew Perry did an excellent portrayal of Ron. It had to of been scary living Aurora and going to NYC to teach. I would of probably of went back home. You hung in there though. Congrats on your achievements and to making a difference in the lives of children. God Bless Ron!J. Cleary Class of 1991