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Substitute: Failure Is Not An Option

2000, Movie, R, 91 mins

Substitute: Failure Is Not An Option: Review

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Though failure isn't an option, repetitiveness is: At the rate it's going, this macho series will run out of educational venues and be forced to set its next — fifth — entry at a high school for the performing arts. Something's not right at General Teague's (J. Don Ferguson) military school alma mater: racist philosophy has spread insidiously through the student body and damaged the General's relationship with his nephew, Cadet Ted Teague (Grayson Fricke). To ferret out white supremacy at the Military Academy he helps fund, the General calls upon former comrade Karl Thomasson (Treat Williams). In his undercover role as an American History professor, Karl butts heads with a student named Buckner (Scott Miles), who questions the veracity of historical accounts of the Holocaust. Buckner, it ensues, is merely parroting the neo-Nazi dogma of academy commandant Brack (Patrick Kilpatrick). Fortunately, the General has planted another spy, Luther (Bill Nunn), on campus; he's posing as a groundskeeper. Karl can also rely on his old pal, Coach Devlin (Tim Abell), to support his investigation. Not only does Karl fail to soften Ted's stance but also he foolishly puts his trust in school nurse Jenny (Angie Everhart), who's also Brack's girlfriend. Karl soon discovers that Brack's operation stretches beyond campus bigotry; he brainwashed pupils into an elite force known as the Werewolves. Attempts to connect the Werewolves to off-campus terrorism prove fruitless, even after a student saboteur dies in an explosion. As Brack retaliates against the General and prepares to eliminate traitors to the cause, Ted finally begins to question his place in Brack's crusade. This preposterous action pictures uses topical subject matter as an excuse for fist fights and explosions, but if you lower your expectations to a purely visceral level you may be able to tolerate this salute to military die-hards who want to nurture the warrior spirit in the classroom. leave a comment --Robert Pardi
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