When I first heard about Freedom Writers, I admit, I rolled my eyes. I mean, how many ‘inspirational education’ stories do we really need? I figured it was a Dangerous Minds for the new millennium … and it was. When I walked out of the theatre, I can’t say that I had seen anything revelatory. It was formulaic but it was also a cut above most films in this genre.

Freedom Writers tells the true story (these kinds of films are always based on a true story) of Erin Gruwell, an idealistic first-time teacher buoyed by her father’s (Scott Glenn) stories of activism during the Civil Rights era to make an impact of her own. She ends up teaching the ‘difficult’ class at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach. The high school freshmen are a handful to say the least. Most are in gangs or closely affiliated with gangs. They’ve seen violence in their homes and on the streets. They don’t see the point of an education and several come to class soley because their probation officers mandate it.

A couple of students stand out. Eva (April Lee Hernandez) is a young woman who’s grown up in the gang life and must honor its code of ‘protecting their own.’ Andre (singer Mario Winans) is a part-time drug dealer whose brother is headed to prison. She uses rap lyrics and novellas about gang life to grab their attention. She also gives them a long-term project. They are to write everyday in a journal. She doesn’t care what they write as long as they write something. The assignment proves to be cathartic for the kids. Before long, teaching has become her all-consuming passion to the dismay of her poor, neglected husband, Scott (Patrick Dempsey). Of course, fellow coworkers aren’t pleased with her outside-of-the-box techniques either and Erin finds herself called before the school board on several occasions.

Again, you go into Freedom Writers knowing what to expect. It’s a formula film from beginning to end. And, at the beginning, I had my doubts. Erin came off as a little too naïve and idealistic to be believed with her crisp suits, plucky attitude and string of pearls (a gift from dad!).As she begins to get to know her students, she gains credibility and their trust. Her character also seems more ‘real’ as abandons some of her idealism in favor of their realities.

Hilary Swank is convincing as the teacher who inspires a classroom full of students who’ve been written off by everyone else. What makes Freedom Writers stand a little bit higher than other films in this genre is the performances of the students, especially April Lee Hernandez.

At almost two hours, Freedom Writers could have used a little trimming. I do understand that there were several storylines involving the students that needed to be explored. However, there were too many battling the school board scenes. A little bit more Patrick Dempsey wouldn’t have hurt either.