The Principal (1987)

The first must-see film of the year.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

This is one of if not the best of James Belushi's movies. James Belushi and Louis Gossett Jr. make a great duo and JJ Cohen as White Zac is also very well casted (he is nothing like the parts he plays). The movie is your typical run down drunken teacher sent to a run down typical gang infested school to be the principal but what is not typical is how two words "No More!" Echo and it seems to drive the line between those who want to try and those who want to hurt.This movie is not a typical 80's but is a drama in away and a action flick in a way but it keeps you watching. "The Principal" may be a bit beyond what goes on in inner city or ghetto schools but most movies do that in other situations too. It showed how a principal who is a true leader can enlist others who also care to stand up to bullies and inspire his student body to work towards an education. It also portrayed others whom one might think were troublemakers because of the environment forced on them to be good kids. This is definitely one of Jim Belushi's best performances in his filmography history.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Why? Because it has all the elements that make for an excellent story. I've always liked James Belushi but hadn't figured out why until I first saw The Principal. Then it hit me while watching the first minutes of this one, he is really a good actor, with a range that is missing in many of the new generation.Rick Latimer (Belushi) is a down and out loser in the educational system, a drunk and trouble maker. He gets sent to a high school to be the Principal of an inner city crime infested multi-racial school at the bottom of the list for academic excellence. Knowing that he is at his last stop, Latimer realizes that he really does care about education and begins to clean up the school, raising eyebrows and taking names in an effort to help the students realize their own potential. With the help of a crusty school security head (Louis Gosset Jr.), and a young teacher who cares, plus a growing group of kids who see the light, Latimer takes on the resident student kingpin, a very unlikable young man who deals drugs openly and believes he is in charge. The interplay between the two factions comes to a head when the kingpin and his goons try to kill Latimer after school one day. The fight and subsequent ending is quite amazing.This movie deserves a lot better grade than has been given to it in the past...

James Belushi, Louis Gossett Jr., Rae Dawn Chong and Michael Wright star in this 1987 drama. A teacher is sent to be principal of a drug-infested high school. Rick Latimer (Belushi) is a school teacher who gets himself in trouble and is asked to be principal of drug-infested high school, Brandel. He meets hall monitor, Jake Phillips (Gossett) and learns that student, Victor Duncan (Wright) is the drug-dealing king of the school. Rick tries to clean up Brandel with his rule, "No more" and gets in over his head. Chong plays Miss Orozco, a history teacher who dislikes Rick at first, but gets close to him later after he saves her from getting raped by a student. Soon, Rick is forced to fight against Victor and make him an example of his rule. I've always liked this film and think it's one of Belushi's best. I recommend this great 80's drama.

Nothing new under sun, as "The Principal" could be seen as a more aggressively modern "Blackboard Jungle" inspiration (which it could possibly have done the same for "Dangerous Minds") amongst a urban ghetto backdrop. You could also say its like "Class of 1984", only less trashier and explicit with the action and cleaning out. John Belushi (an effectively imposing turn balancing the dry humour with a serious side) stars as a teacher Rick Latimer who's life is falling apart and an brutal act involving his ex-wife and new lover, sees him being offered (though there's no real choice to it) a new position as principal at a school that's over-run by drugs, violence and gangs who don't have education on their minds. So he goes about making changes, but a certain drug dealer Victor Duncan (a superbly lethal Michael Wright) sees this as a threat and goes on to make it hell. But Latimer doesn't cave in and soon finds an ally in janitor Jake Phillips (a tough performance by Lou Gossett Jr.) The formulaic story (which at times can get preachy) seems to be fuelled by such topics as crime, racism and talent untapped in what Belushi's strong-minded character transforms, as he might be in over his head however his got nothing to lose. He takes it on the chin, and tries to build upon the foundation than letting it slide… despite the scoffing and violence targeted at him. Director Christopher Cain does a polished job with his forward handling, but never letting it loose focus on the raw and brutal side of things. Crisp, but explosively high octane. Surprisingly it was more intense and action-oriented than I was expecting. The encounters involving Latimer and Victor coming to blows in what was a power tussle for control and dominance was always gripping in the scheme of things. Performances are well-guided with some other familiar faces in Rae Dawn Chong, Esai Morales and Jacob Vargas. Also throughout we get some drowning 80s tunes spliced throughout to evoke spirit and grit.