Dangerous Minds

A surprise hit at the US box office, this is a standard 'inspirational' foray into the blackboard jungle, a place where over-age ethnic actors vye for the attention of the camera and pay no heed to their English teacher until she gets relevant by quoting Bob Dylan. Actually it's quite a respectable piece of work, with an impressive tough-love performance from Pfeiffer, but Ronald Bass's hackneyed screenplay is all carrot and no stick.