Avildsen's enthusiastic direction gives Lean on Me a heartwarming, feel-good tone that is accessible beyond the environs of its subject.

Lean on Me is not a documentary about the real Joe Clark. It is a fiction film about a character who is so troubled, obsessed and angry that the film is never able to say quite what it thinks of him. After the movie, neither are we.

A rewatch of "Lean on Me" does bring about the same sense of appreciation for individuals who work in education, who sacrifice their time and energy to ensure that the next generation is as smart (or smarter) than the last.

Those seeking inspiration and uplift could do a lot worse.