Oh no. Not another inspirational teacher in a skid row school making a change and turning them all into nice grade A students.

Well, not exactly. The Principal is a bit of that too, but it’s much more about Jim Belushi as the principal getting pushed beyond the point of no return to ensure a work peace to protect students getting terrorised by a juvenile gang led by Michael Wright. And although you know it’s a showdown waiting to happen, it’s this buildup of tension that makes The Principal worth your while.

Made in the vein of Class of 1984, The Principal is in its way the very best Belushi movie of the era and the role of the unconventional principle fits well with both his appearance and his trademark onscreen character.

80s-o-meter: 81%

Total: 76%