Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- earnest
- warm
- family movie night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics found it a generally entertaining but heavily clichéd family comedy-drama whose earnest message and Ryan Reynolds' performance were undercut by forced plotting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Matt Warner struggles with his father Norman's forty-three-year Teacher of the Year legacy and his own perceived shortcomings.
Michael D'Angelo captivates Fallbrook Middle School students and teachers with his engaging approach to history.
Matt focuses on preserving the Warner streak rather than initially becoming the kind of teacher his students need.
Matt, Dylan, and the Fallbrook faculty are all affected by the rivalry between Matt and Mr. D.
Films like School of Life, and why
Dead Poets Society
warm school-based comedy-drama about an unconventional teacher inspiring students and colleagues
Mr. Holland's Opus
family-friendly teacher story combining mentorship, classroom engagement, and personal transformation
The Emperor's Club
uplifting school comedy-drama centered on a charismatic educator challenging institutional routines
The Ron Clark Story
feel-good family comedy-drama about teachers, students, and learning to value one another
Movie Details
- Director
- William Dear
- Release Date
- 2005-02-19
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (169)
Cast
- David Paymer
- Ryan Reynolds
- Kate Vernon
- Andrew Robb
- John Astin
- Don MacKay
- Brenda McDonald
- Paul Jarrett
- Leila Johnson
- Chris Gauthier
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Dove Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is School of Life about?
- A rigid biology teacher battles his school's charismatic new history instructor while learning that inspiration cannot be inherited or won as an award.
- What is School of Life like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of School of Life as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is School of Life violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in School of Life.
- What did critics think of School of Life?
- Critics found it a generally entertaining but heavily clichéd family comedy-drama whose earnest message and Ryan Reynolds' performance were undercut by forced plotting.
- Which films are like School of Life?
- Films with a similar feel include Dead Poets Society, Mr. Holland's Opus, The Emperor's Club, and The Ron Clark Story.
- How long is School of Life?
- School of Life runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch School of Life?
- In United States, School of Life streams on fuboTV, Dove Amazon Channel.
