The fast-action, motorcycle-riding, knuckle-busting, gang-beating, crime-drama movie "The Principal" starring Jim Belushi (John's brother) has it's U.S. release.
Jim Belushi plays Rick Latimer a hard drinking, motorcycle riding, maverick high school teacher. One night he see's his ex-wife and her new man in a bar and, in a whiskey-induced jealous rage, he proceeds to beat the shit out of her new beau's car with a baseball bat. The boyfriend cries and calls the cops. His subsequent arrest has Rick appearing before the school board and after a 10-second debate they come to the conclusion that his behavior is reflecting poorly on the school's image. They unanimously decide to have him transferred. As hard as this is to believe, he's transferred to a bad neighborhood, to crime-ridden, gang-riddled Brandel High, where he is made the new principal.
Latimer believes he can change his image by cleaning up the school (instead of himself), Rick attempts to have an assembly to declare his intentions: "No more! No more drugs, no more running in the hallways, no more being late to class!" he cries. While he's giving his "No more!" speech, the leader of the school's biggest and baddest gang, Victor, struts in and derides Rick in front of everyone, then struts his bad-self out of the assembly. Chaos ensues earning Rick the enmity of not only the teachers but also school's Head of Security, Jake (played by Lou Gossett Jr. who's money from 'An Officer and a Gentleman' was obviously running out).
Eventually Jake comes on board, he helps manage Rick's policy of no drug-dealing in the bathrooms and to clear out the hallways, but not always with success. Because students are now forced to go to class, some of the more 'unruly' students become increasingly disruptive, including the punk-ass White Zac, who eventually attempts to rape one of the teachers, Ms. Orozco (played by Tommy Chong's daughter, Rae Dawn Chong), with whom Rick is beginning to form a close friendship (nudge nudge, wink wink).
Meanwhile, Victor continues to assert his influence on the school, going so far as to giving a brutal beatdown to an ex-member of his gang and hang him by his ankles when he finds out the kid becomes friendly with Rick and actually starts, gasp, learning. The feud between Rick and Victor eventually comes to a head, leading to a showdown in the school halls while Jake is temporarily locked inside a supply closet as Victor and his gang hunt Rick down.
!!!Warning, Spoiler Alert - Victor and Rick fight each other!!!
In a seemingly unpredictable ending, much to the shock of the rest of the school who witness the fight, Good gives Evil a beatdown. Several students cheer Rick on (including Ms. Orozco), much to the chagrin of Victor's gang members. When the fighting ends, a tired and bloody Rick Latimer raises his fist in victory and again declares, "No more!" as Victor is taken away in a police car.
When a student asks, "Hey man, who the hell do you think you are?", Rick responds "I'm the principal, man!" and rides away on his motorcycle (the motorcycle is played by a 1986 Honda VT700C Shadow).
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
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