History YMMV / LeanOnMe

* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments: Near the end, the students of Eastside go to Ms. Berrett to tell her Mr. Clark is the principal they need. However, Sams could have phrased one of his arguments better:
-->'''Ms Berrett:''' People, just hear me! The school board is meeting right now and I promise you, we will give you what Eastside High deserves: a good principal!\\

* {{Fanon}}: A common theory posited by viewers is that the expelled student who attacks Kid Ray and Joe Clark is actually Mrs. Berrett's son. There is no evidence this is the case within the film itself or any WordOfGod, but many fans argue this addition adds a bit more nuance to Berrett's actions. It would explain why she takes the mass expulsion [[ItsPersonal so personally]] and frames her dislike of Joe Clark as [[PsychologicalProjection projection of her own frustrations]] of being unable to keep her son out of a life of crime.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Mrs. Elliot does have an ego and an attitude, but she wasn't wrong about how Joe is a [[JerkAss bully]] who demands [[MyWayOrTheHighway instant, unquestioning obedience]] and would get angry if someone dares to disagree with him.

--->'''Ebert''': This is a seriously troubled man. As the movie progresses, we wait for Clark to undergo a personality change, to soften, to grow, to start learning to respect the right of other people to have an opinion. But with the exception of one halfhearted apology, Clark never does change. He is an arrogant bully, a martinet who demands instant, unquestioning obedience...it never honestly looks at Clark for what he really is: a grownup example of the very troublemakers he hates so much, still unable even in adulthood to doubt his right to do what he wants, when he wants, as he wants. How can he teach, when he's unteachable? His values have little to do with learning how to learn.
** Mrs. Berrett brings up a lot of good points such as the numerous times Mr. Clark grabs the JerkassBall and had good intentions to get a principal that wasn't to her, batshit insane. Problem is the underlying tone of the conflict between her and Mr. Clark that makes it so obvious she doesn't really care anymore about the welfare of the students and was just out to get Mr. Clark; regardless of whether his methods worked or not.

-->'''Ebert''': This is a seriously troubled man. As the movie progresses, we wait for Clark to undergo a personality change, to soften, to grow, to start learning to respect the right of other people to have an opinion. But with the exception of one halfhearted apology, Clark never does change. He is an arrogant bully, a martinet who demands instant, unquestioning obedience...it never honestly looks at Clark for what he really is: a grownup example of the very troublemakers he hates so much, still unable even in adulthood to doubt his right to do what he wants, when he wants, as he wants. How can he teach, when he's unteachable? His values have little to do with learning how to learn.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Mrs. Berrett brings up a lot of good points such as the numerous times Mr. Clark grabs the JerkassBall and had good intentions to get a principal that wasn't to her, batshit insane. Problem is the underlying tone of the conflict between her and Mr. Clark that makes it so obvious she doesn't really care anymore about the welfare of the students and was just out to get Mr. Clark; regardless of whether his methods worked or not.

** And his boss is Robert Guillaume, who went on to become Series/{{Benson}} [[Series/{{Soap}} DuBois]] and [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 Rafiki]].

-->'''Mr. Clark:''' You smoke crack, don't you, boy? Know what that does to you?! ''*starts firmly poking Sams in the temple*'' It kills your brain cells, son, it kills your brain cells! If you want to kill yourself, don't [[PrecisionFStrike fuck]] around with it; do it expedituously! ''Now go ahead and jump!''

-->'''Mr. Clark:''' You smoke crack, don't you, boy? Know what that does to you?! ''*starts firmly poking Sams in the temple*'' It kills your brain cells, son, it kills your brain cells! If you want to kill yourself, don't fuck around with it; do it expedituously! ''Now go ahead and jump!''

** And his boss is Robert Guillaume, who went on to become Series/{{Benson}} [[Series/{{Soap}} DuBois]] and [[Disney/TheLionKing Rafiki]].

* HilariousInHindsight: At one point, Joe Clark holds a baseball bat in his hand and proclaims "They used to call me Crazy Joe. Well now they can call me Bat-man!". Sixteen years later, Freeman would go on to play Lucius Fox, Batman's GadgeteerGenius and technical advisor in ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'', starting with ''Film/BatmanBegins''.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Mrs.Berrett brings up a lot of good points such as the numerous times Dr.Clark grabs the JerkassBall and had good intentions to get a principal that wasn't to her, batshit insane. Problem is the underlying tone of the conflict between her and Dr.Clark that makes it so obvious she doesn't really care anymore about the welfare of the students and was just out to get Dr.Clark; regardless of whether his methods worked or not.

** Joe Clark, of course, is [[Film/BruceAlmighty God]], [[Film/BatmanBegins the head of Wayne Enterprises]], [[Film/DeepImpact the President]], [[Film/TheSumOfAllFears head of the CIA]], [[Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves a badass Muslim with a giant sword]], [[Film/TheShawshankRedemption and knows how to get things]]. No need to say the actor's name

** One of the thugs on stage in the first assembly is [[Series/TheSopranos Christopher Moltisanti]].
** The new football coach has a [[Film/DumbandDumber problem with ulcers]].
** Joe Clark, of course, is [[Film/BruceAlmighty God]], [[Film/BatmanBegins the head of Wayne Enterprises]], [[Film/DeepImpact the President]], [[Film/TheSumOfAllFears head of the CIA]], [[Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves a badass Muslim with a giant sword]], [[Film/TheShawshankRedemption and knows how to get things]].
** And his boss is both Series/{{Benson}} [[Series/{{Soap}} DuBois]] and [[Disney/TheLionKing Rafiki]].

** The new head of security [[Film/CandyMan is going to have you hooked]].

** Look carefully and you can even find [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Jar-Jar]].

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Mrs.Barret brings up a lot of good points such as the numerous times Dr.Clark grabs the JerkassBall and had good intentions to get a principal that wasn't to her, batshit insane. Problem is the underlying tone of the conflict between her and Dr.Clark that makes it so obvious she doesn't really care anymore about the welfare of the students and was just out to get Dr.Clark; regardless of whether his methods worked or not.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Mrs.Barret bring up a lot of good points such as the numerous times Dr.Clark grabs the JerkassBall and had good intentions to get a principal that wasn't to her, batshit insane. Problem is the underlying tone of the conflict between her and Dr.Clark that makes it so obvious she doesn't really care anymore about the welfare of the students and was just out to get Dr.Clark; regardless of whether his methods worked or not.

-->'''Mr. Clark:''' "You smoke crack, don't you, boy? Know what that does to you?!" ''*starts firmly poking Sams in the temple*'' "It kills your brain cells, son, it kills your brain cells! If you want to kill yourself, don't fuck around with it; do it expedituously! Now, ''jump!''"

* HilariousInHindsight: At one point, Joe Clark holds a baseball bat in his hand and proclaims "They used to call me Crazy Joe. Well now they can call me Batman!". Sixteen years later, Freeman would go on to play Lucius Fox, Batman's GadgeteerGenius and technical advisor in ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'', starting with ''Film/BatmanBegins''.

* HilariousInHindsight: At one point, Joe Clark holds a baseball bat in his hand and proclaims "They used to call me Crazy Joe. Well now they can call me Batman!". 14 years later, Freeman would go on to play Lucius Fox, Batman's GadgeteerGenius and technical advisor in ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'', starting with ''Film/BatmanBegins''.

* HilariousInHindsight: At one point, Joe Clark holds a baseball bat in his hand and proclaims "They used to call me Crazy Joe. Well now they can call me Batman!". A few months later, Freeman would go on to play Lucius Fox, Batman's GadgeteerGenius and technical advisor in ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'', starting with ''Film/BatmanBegins'' just a couple of months after ''Lean on me''.

-->'''Mr. Clark:''' "You smoke crack, don't you, boy? Know that that does you?!" ''*starts firmly poking Sams in the temple*'' "It kills your brain cells, son, it kills your brain cells! If you want to kill yourself, don't fuck around with it; do it expedituously! Now, ''jump!''"

-->'''Mr. Clark:''' "You smoke crack, don't you? Know that that does you?!" ''*starts firmly poking Sams in the temple*'' "It kills your brain cells, son, it kills your brain cells! Now if you want to kill yourself, don't fuck around with it; do it expedituously! Now, ''jump!''"