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In yet another based-on-a-true-story movie, Hilary Swank stars as Erin Gruwell – a former law student who ditched the money and prestige to work as a school teacher and save the world.  She finds herself teaching in a Long Beach high school where gang wars rage everyday and her students perform at a 5^th and 6^th grade level.  While many of the faculty members are determined to focus on the higher performing students, instead of the ones bussed in from South Central LA, Gruwell feels it was her calling to help these troubled youths, and tries everything she can to get through to them.  Eventually, Erin encourages the kids to write about their experiences, and starts to match up the curriculum, so that it will have more meaning in their lives.

Will Erin get the kids to learn?  What will she learn from them?

How many of you cringed when you read the line, “what will she learn from them?”  That one reaction determines whether or not you want to see Freedom Writers.  If you got a bit misty eyed and started clicking over to Fandango to buy your tickets, good for you, and take some tissues. The rest of us groaned and felt like we have seen this movie too many times before, so might I suggest Dreamgirls? 

Writer/director Richard LaGravenese is content to focus on the obvious as Erin comes off as the dorky white girl who can’t correctly pronounce the names of famous rappers and stumbles as she tries to use street lingo to earn points with the kids (yo dawg, you feelin’ me?).  Then, in typical movie fashion, Erin inspires the kids, and they all start to dream of having better lives.  While we have seen it before in Take The Lead, Dangerous Minds, The Gridiron Gang, Mr. Holland’s Opus and so many many many more, part of the story resonates with you because you have a pulse and want to see troubled kids overcome adversity to have better lives.  The earnestness and heart of the movie does grow on you over time.  However, Freedom Writers doesn’t add anything new to the formula, no matter how much of a hero Erin truly has become. 

Swank might be the only reason to see Freedom Writers.  While she too is content to follow the playbook to a fault, Swank does find some moments to truly connect with the audience as she shows the fight and determination Erin has in her to make this program work and teach children who are being left behind.  The amazing true story of her own sacrifices makes Erin much more likable, but Swank also is an actress we want to like, and knows how to bring out the positive attributes of the character.

Freedom Writers excels when the young characters narrate stories written by the actual kids, and when Swank gets to show some fight, but too often gets bogged down in formula and an ending that seems to go on far too long past the point of victory.  

1 ½ Waffles (Out Of 4)

Freedome Writers is rated PG-13 for violent content, some thematic material and language.

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