When Calculus Meets Heart: Stand and Deliver Gets the Math Treatment
Welcome to this episode of The Most Excellent 80s Movies Podcast! Hosts Krissy Lenz and Nathan Blackwell tackle the 1988 inspirational drama Stand and Deliver, starring Edward James Olmos as real-life teacher Jaime Escalante. This episode dives into whether this classroom classic still holds up or if it’s just another case of sitting through endless math problems.
The Good, The Bad, and The Calculus
The hosts appreciate Edward James Olmos’ committed, Academy Award-nominated performance—he even underwent hair thinning for the role and followed the real teacher around for research. Lou Diamond Phillips also shines as Angel, the charismatic bad boy with hidden depths. However, Krissy and Nathan find themselves wanting more emotional depth and character development. They argue that while the movie succeeds as inspiration, it fails to show the real struggles and motivations that would drive these students to commit so deeply to advanced mathematics.
The discussion takes an interesting turn when they question the practicality of teaching calculus versus life skills like tax accounting. They also critique the film’s structure, noting that despite being billed as a comedy, it’s more of a straightforward drama that keeps viewers at arm’s length from the action. The hosts give Stand and Deliver a solid 6 out of 10, appreciating its heart while acknowledging its limitations.
Additional Thoughts:
- The movie should have been called “Sit and Calculate” given how much sitting and math occurs
- More scenes showing students’ home lives and personal struggles would have strengthened the narrative
- The ending needed more follow-up on what happened to these students after passing their AP exams
- Edward James Olmos deserved the Oscar over Michael Douglas that year
- The film lacks the dramatic tension found in other inspirational teacher movies
Final Verdict
While Stand and Deliver remains an earnest tribute to dedicated educators and student potential, the hosts feel it plays things too safe. It’s a movie that works better in memory than on rewatch, though Olmos’ powerhouse performance still delivers the goods.
Ready to join the conversation about your favorite 80s movies? Learn more about The Most Excellent 80s Movies Podcast and get early, ad-free episodes plus bonus content by becoming a member at trustory.fm/join. Connect with the show on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky. Check out Nathan’s filmmaking at Squishy Studios and catch Krissy live at the Neighborhood Comedy Theatre.
What’s your take on inspirational teacher movies—do they still motivate you, or do you find them lacking in real-world practicality like our hosts?
