A provocative student slyly seducing a teacher has been done before and this take offers nothing new. Martin Freeman plays the high school English instructor who’s enamored by a smart student (Jenna Ortega). Thus begins a completely predictable path to “the encounter” and the subsequent fallout. Fortunately, first time writer/director Jade Halley Bartlett had the luck to cast this skilled duo. They capture the attraction and confusion with compelling depth. As his faculty buddy, Bashir Salahuddin adds a much needed lighter touch, while Dagmara Dominczyk, as the wife, adds a sometimes intense vibe. Sadly, the script is stuffed with overwritten literary pretentions that only add tedium. Every inevitable moment is obvious, so there’s really nothing (other than the performances to recommend this failed drama. 
(1.5 / 5)