When Calculus Meets Heart: Stand and Deliver Gets the Math TreatmentWelcome 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 CalculusThe 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:
