Night School 2018

In 2001, high school student Teddy Walker, portrayed by Kevin Hart, faces an overwhelming challenge when he decides to drop out of school due to his inability to focus during a pivotal exam, a moment marked by his history as a school bully and his arrogant demeanor. Fast forward to 2018, and Teddy finds himself thriving as a barbecue grill salesman, dating the affluent Lisa, played by Megalyn Echikunwoke. Although he appears to have it all figured out, Teddy relies on a deceptive financial strategy to maintain an illusion of success.

Teddy’s life takes a disastrous turn just when he learns he is set to take over the store upon the retirement of the current manager. As he prepares to propose to Lisa in the shop, an accident involving a champagne cork and a gas tank leads to an explosive setback, resulting in Teddy losing his job as the manager absconds with the insurance money from the incident. Now unemployed, he gets some advice from his best friend Marvin, played by Ben Schwartz, who suggests that Teddy could work at his financial investment firm—if only he earned a GED.

Determined to secure the necessary qualification, Teddy heads back to his former high school with a plan to charm the new principal, Stewart, played by Taran Killam. His plan quickly unravels upon discovering that Stewart is none other than the person he once bullied. Nevertheless, Teddy manages to enroll in night school taught by the unconventional Carrie, portrayed by Tiffany Haddish, but continues to grapple with his old issues of concentration.

Seeking to impress Lisa, Teddy tells her he’s already landed a job with Marvin while secretly working at a nearby fast-food joint to make ends meet. In class, he meets a diverse group of classmates: Theresa, a diligent single mother aiming for her GED; Mila, a sardonic hipster from a privileged background; Mackenzie and Jaylen, who all have their struggles. As the class faces their challenges, Teddy proposes a risky plan to steal test answers, which ends in disaster when Carrie finds out, resulting in his expulsion.

In a heartfelt moment, when Teddy returns to appeal to Carrie, she agrees to give him another chance, provided he gets tested for learning disabilities. This leads to the discovery that he suffers from dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other processing issues. Carrie’s innovative teaching methods help Teddy to adapt, and he gradually builds genuine friendships with his classmates.

As the final class coincides with the school’s senior prom, Teddy encourages his peers to attend. However, he is blindsided when Lisa shows up with Stewart, believing she is there for corporate sponsorship, only to discover Teddy’s lies. Heartbroken, Lisa breaks up with him, causing Teddy to lose hope in his pursuit of a GED. But soon after, Carrie and Stewart, the latter apologizing for his vendetta, visit Teddy and persuade him to persist.

Despite not passing the test initially, Teddy’s resilience shines through as he continues to attempt the exam. At graduation, he delivers an inspiring speech about the power of second chances, culminating in a heartfelt reunion with Lisa, who agrees to a date on the condition that she pays this time around.