The Ron Clark Story

The Ron Clark Story (2006)

Director: Randa Haines

Cast: Matthew Perry as Ron Clark, Brandon Mychal Smith as Tayshawn, Hannah Hodson as Shameika, Micah Stephen Williams as Julio, Ernie Hudson as Principal Turner, Melissa De Sousa as Marissa Vega, Patricia Idlette as Devina, Judith Buchan as Snowden School Principal

Genre: Drama, Television

Settings: United States, New York City, Harlem

Review:

Ron Clark, still relatively early in his career, leaves his stable life teaching at an elementary school in his suburban North Carolina hometown, the school where he is appreciated by both his fellow teachers and his students for his innovative teaching methods which results in raising test scores. Instead, he decides to look for a teaching job at a tough New York inner city school where he feels he can be more useful. He eventually finds a job at Inner Harlem Elementary School, where the students are segregated according to their potential. As Clark is white and "nice" looking, Principal Turner wants to assign him to the honors class, especially as Turner's job security depends on good test scores. Clark, however, wants to take the most disadvantaged class. He quickly learns that it will be a battle of wills between himself and his disruptive students to see who can outlast the other. But he also learns that he has to understand them, both individually and collectively, on their level to be able to get through to them before he can teach them the standardized materials. But even the best laid plans can be turned askew by unforeseen events, such as illness and the behavior of others outside of his control. And he has to overcome the self-fulfilling prophecy of failure to instill a sense of worth within the students. Through it all, he is supported by Marissa Vega, the beautiful waitress at the restaurant where he works part-time.

This film is based on the true-life story of Ron Clark, a remarkable teacher who takes on the challenge of a rebellious Harlem school. He teaches the middle schoolers to dream big but it takes a lot of effort and patience on his part as he chips away the stone and begins to see the first small cracks of light and hope. Matthew Perry is excellent in his role as Clark.

There is some language in this movie and some of it is used by the teenagers. There is also strong disrespect shown toward the teacher in the beginning and even to some extent for awhile after that. However, the redeeming value of this story is evident once the viewer watches it through to the end. We find a compassionate teacher who truly is there for his students and leaves his fingerprints on their lives in a positive way. And the entire class changes by film's end. He stands by his classroom rules which eventually are respected by the students. For this reason, with a warning about the language, we recommend the film for ages twelve and above. It is told in a realistic manner which underscores the change in attitudes by the end of the film. Ron Clark wrote a best-seller which includes his essential 55 rules. The Ron Clark Academy opens this fall in Atlanta, Georgia.

As for awards, it was nominated for three 2007 Emmy Awards, including "Outstanding Made For Television Movie", "Outstanding Casting For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special" and "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie" for Perry. Additionally, Perry was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award for "Best Actor".

In conclusion I’d like to say that some aspects of the story sometimes seemed to be too good to be true. And in the tradition of film adaptations, I wonder how much of the movie was altered for dramatic purposes. But that should be the least of your worries, I find this movie hugely entertaining and easy to watch. Definitely not a bad way to spend a few hours on.