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This action leads to an interview with the board and the
high possibility of dismissal.
Rick is presented with an offer he can't refuse, a promotion,
to run the worst school in town, Brandell High. He accepts
the challenge and encounters students who are a collection
of rejects from the whole district and teachers who just want
to keep a job.
They expect him to go with the flow and allow the school
to be run by a bunch of juvenile thugs.
The Principal has one ally, Head of Security Jake Phillips
(Louis Gossett Jnr) and an implacable enemy, gang leader Victor
Duncan (Michael Wright).
The confrontation between good and bad is violent and disturbing.
The Principal is an interesting film: The conflict between
a teacher and pupils always is; To Sir With Love and The Dead
Poets Society spring to mind.
Unfortunately the casting of the head baddie, the gang leader,
is wrong. While delivering an excellent performance he is
too old to be credible as even the most streetwise of teenagers.
Louis Gossett Jnr, usually so convincing, is under par. As
one of the lynchpin actors his stereotype performance doesn't
help the production. James Belushi is excellent as the eccentric
principal, however.
Director Christopher Cain does a fine job with the action
and atmosphere and despite the defects, The Principal is worth
a look, not with the family though; the language and themes
are too tough for inter-generational viewing.
Conclusion: Movie 80% Extras 25%
Continued: DVD
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