Cameron Diaz gets down and dirty in the funnier than expected Bad Teacher. Diaz stars as Elizabeth Halsey, a seventh grade middle school teacher who get's dumped by her fiance for her gold-digging ways. Broke and disillusioned, she gets back to form - smoking pot, getting drunk, and pretty much taking zero interest in her students. Her attitude changes when she learns that the teacher of the year gets a sizable bonus; which she could spend on a boob job and win another rich husband.

Bad Teacher has nothing going on plot-wise. It's a collection of jokes and gags, but it works; a brainless comedy to escape from the grind. Halsey's personality is so unrepentantly selfish and obnoxious, it's hilarious to see a teacher acting this way. They earn the R-rating, so you can rest assured the film doesn't take it easy on the lewdness.

Diaz has been more miss than hit for her entire career, so it's good to see something different from her. She hasn't been this funny since the classic Farrelly Brothers comedy - There's Something About Mary. That's a far superior film in every way, but since that came out thirteen years ago, its been a while since I could recommend one of her comedies. I think this role is a somewhat calculated career move. She's showing audiences a darker side by not being so precious.

The side characters get a few laughs, but I have to single out Lucy Punch here. She co-stars as the goodie two-shoes, teacher nemesis, Amy Squirrel. Punch almost steals the Bad Teacher show from Diaz. She's a riot. I went on IMDB afterwards to see who she was, and drumroll please, she's British. I couldn't have guessed that for all the tea in China, so she's very convincing in this role.

Bad Teacher is worth seeing. It doesn't go as far as Bad Santa, but works as a black comedy. Definitely better than The Hangover 2, but not remotely in the same league as Bridesmaids; which continues to reign supreme as the best comedy of the summer.