Won't Back Down Review

You've got to fight for your right to learn-Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal are mothers against schools in
Won't Back Down
                                   When filmmakers want to prove themselves...they pick a topic that will *hopefully* make the audience think about said topic and simultaneously entertain them. I suppose that this is what director Daniel Barnz who previously did Beastly and Phoebe In Wonderland  was trying to do with Won't Back Down. I believe that Barnz was trying to prove himself by going from a movie aimed at preteen girls to a movie aimed at teenage girls to a movie aimed at full grown women. Rather...Won't Back Down is a film that thinks it is better than it really is. The whole film is unappealing and yet it thinks the audience is going to go with the flow.

                                  The film stars Viola Davis as Nona and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Jamie. Both of these women have kids who are struggling in school due to the lack of skills that teachers have at dealing with kids. Nona is one of the few good teachers in the school where Jamie's daughter goes. One day, after losing a school lottery run by Principal Thompson (Ving Rhames in a laughable role)...these two women decide to start a petition against the schools. Then there is the gooey and totally unneeded romance between Jamie and teacher Michael Perry (Oscar Isaac.)

                                   The main problem with the film is that it takes a serious issue that needs to be talked about and completely undercuts said issue. Gylllenhaal and Davis have been good before but their characters are too over the top and obnoxious to care about. Speaking of which...Holly Hunter shows up as the woman determined to take these two done. Sure...Hunter is also not at all good here but the other two rub us the wrong way so much that we start to wish she will stop them. The worst part about the film, however is that it acts as if it is building up to a big climax and then it just ends on something totally insignificant. The film is also way too long. Yes...at exactly two hours...I dare anyone not to check their watch before the film reaches its end.

                                   Won't Back Down is a terrible film. It makes you wonder why you are watching such a boring film about our school systems when the fabulous and compelling documentary Waiting For Superman is out on DVD. Do yourself a favor and back down from seeing this mess.
(1/2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG for thematic elements and language)