Student Seduction finds Saved By The Bell Alumni Elizabeth Berkley on the other side of the desk and attracting the attention of young and hunky Corey Sevier. Speaking for myself I can truthfully say that no teachers save one ever did anything for me hormonally back when I was a student. That was a Ms. Diaz who was a music teacher in Junior High School. Even as a young gay kid, I could see what she was doing to the rest of the class. She was the only teacher I had who in any way could have been played by Elizabeth Berkley.

Corey being the hotty he is, is also used to having his own way with women whether they agree or not. The fact that he comes from rich parents reinforces that belief. He's flunking chemistry which is what Berkley teaches and to keep his GPA up she agrees to tutor, but believe no more.

So when he attempts a rape and gets no for an answer it's damaging to his ego. When Berkley goes out of channels and reports the crime to the police, the cops who are keeping in mind the cases of Pamela Smart and Mary Kay LeTourneau just don't believe here. Sevier's parents have the wherewithal to get a good publicity spin on this for their boy.

Student Seduction which is a misnomer of a title if there ever was one is trash all the way. After the beating that Berkley took for Showgirls this TV film was not an upward career move.

It fills in a familiar template at LMN. Elizabeth Berkley is a friendly and happily married chemistry teacher at a fancy high school. She loves her job and her students, bringing the class small presents and volunteering to tutor students like handsome Corey Sevier who are lagging behind.

The problem is that Sevier has more on his mind than just ionic bonding. He begins to put moves on her that she firmly rejects. Sevier is a persistent kid, though, and used to getting his way with girls. Accordingly he winds up assaulting her when she's home alone. She goes to the police.

Need we spell the rest out? Hell itself is visited upon the victim. The good-looking and charming Sevier claims that SHE accosted HIM and invited her to her home and encouraged his advances. The police believe him, not her. They Mirandize her, cuff her, and force her to do the perp walk down the school's hallways. She's suspended from her job.

Not only do the police not believe her. Her principal has doubts too. Her LAWYER's belief in her innocence is limited in its depth. Her husband is wary, lacking in understanding, and offers ineffective support.

Throughout the ordeal, Elizabeth Berkley is staunch and resolute, even as her social world collapses around her. Even as she's referred to repeatedly as a "sexual predator" along the lines of some other famous teachers who couldn't keep their hands off their students.

First off, I don't want to hear of any more boys being named Corey. Or any girls named Jillian or Gillian either. I'm sick of it. Then, too, let us drop the use of the word "predator." Let's reserve it for lions and tigers. Not bears, though, because bears are omnivores like humans. While it's true that bears love to catch and eat salmon, given half a chance, they're too fond of blackberries to be predators.

Second, we see Corey Sevier's family "doing PR" against Berkley. They give their story to the press, hire great lawyers, and appear on a TV show like Oprah. Berkley, who is now pregnant to add to the general sense of distress, nurses her grievances in private. Well, this is pretty hypocritical. The movie condemns people for watching a talk show on which guests discuss their travails, while at the same time this very movie is nothing more than a dramatization of such a tale.

Third, there's nothing wrong with gossip per se. It's a valuable tool of social control and it contributes the community's shared data base. It only becomes destructive when its course is changed or when there is too much of it. In that sense it's like water. We need it. But we need it a glass at a time, or a bath tub at a time. We don't need a flood of it.

Right now, in my opinion, there is far too much of it, a raging torrent of it. It sloshes out of our television every day. It fills the magazine racks at supermarket check out counters. Will Jenny Dump Brad? Angie's Dirty Little Secret! It has bled into our political process. Some years ago, Admiral Bobby Inman, a decent and thoughtful man, was offered appointment to a high office in the executive branch but turned it down because he felt the confirmation process had become undignified -- and it has. A nominee for an appointment might be a fan of the San Francisco 49ers. Well, we all know that San Francisco is a hot bed of inversion. Okay. Tell us, General, have you ever had a homosexual experience? The whole culture is crippled by its tabloid sensibility. The end of our civilization may be at hand.

So why did I bother watching this passion play? I wanted to see if I might be wrong.

Pretty chemistry teacher Elizabeth Berkley (as Christie Dawson) offers to tutor handsome student Corey Sevier (as Joshua "Josh" Gaines) after school. Used to having his way with women, Mr. Sevier makes sexual advances, which Ms. Berkley refuses. Persistence leads to accusations... This is a very predictable story, but refreshing in that it does not follow the path you are initially expecting; this makes the title "Student Seduction" highly misleading. Credit should be given to director Peter Svatek and a fine cast, for keeping performances appropriate. In particular, Berkley is attractive without being seductive. Sevier and Sarah Allen (as Jenna) do well as the students. Unfortunately, we are treated to obvious plot plants throughout. You will be able to spot future "witnesses" easily, along with the behavior which could prove to be the perpetrator's undoing.

**** Student Seduction (5/5/03) Peter Svatek ~ Elizabeth Berkley, Corey Sevier, Rick Roberts, Sarah Allen