CBS's David Edelstein Lauds ‘No Redeeming Social Value’ in Raunchy Film, Derides ‘Hypocritical Moralists’

July 3rd, 2011 6:44 PM

 On CBS's Sunday Morning program, as he reviewed the film Bad Teacher, starring Cameron Diaz, film critic David Edelstein applauded the raunchy film for having "no redeeming social value" as he derided "all the hypocritical moralists out there."

The film critic - who also contributes to New York magazine and NPR - recounted that Diaz’s character is "a conniving, druggy, drunken middle school instructor who’ll do anything for money to buy herself bigger boobs so she can marry rich and not have to do the job at which she’s, yes, bad," and then described himself as being "in awe" of the movie.

He then continued: "The beauty part of Bad Teacher is it has no redeeming social value. Let me clarify: With all the hypocritical moralists out there, a movie honest about having no redeeming social value has redeeming social value."

Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the July 3 CBS Sunday Morning:

DAVID EDELSTEIN: Harry Dean could be the gonzo grampa of Cameron Diaz in the R-rated "Bad Teacher."

RUSSELL GETTIS AS JASON SEGEL: Hey, Elizabeth, you wanna grab a bite sometime?

CAMERON DIAZ AS ELIZABETH: You still a gym teacher?

GETTIS: I am, yeah.

DIAZ: Then, no.

EDELSTEIN: A conniving, druggy, drunken middle school instructor who’ll do anything for money to buy herself bigger boobs so she can marry rich and not have to do the job at which she’s, yes, bad. The movie is one "How bad is she?" joke repeated over and over. And my response is easily stated: I was in awe.

Folks, Cameron Diaz doesn’t get enough respect. She’s a great mad cap comedienne - her features gorgeous and clown-like, her long legs balletic and freakish. The beauty part of Bad Teacher is it has no redeeming social value.

Let me clarify: With all the hypocritical moralists out there, a movie honest about having no redeeming social value has redeeming social value. That’s what I think anyway, and it might explain why no one will hire me to teach.