Rating:

Starring Kevin Kline, Emile Hirsch, Embeth Davitz, Rob Morrow, Edward Herrmann and Harris Yulin

Directed by Michael Hoffman

Produced by Marc Abraham and Andrew S. Karsch

Based on the short story “The Palace Thief” by Ethan CaninScreenplay by Neil Tolkin

Distributed by Universal Pictures

109 mins.

Rated PG-13

About a week before I saw the new movie “The Emperor’s Club,” a print ad for it caught my eye. In it, a critic praised the film as “inspiring” and “life-affirming.” When I see “life-affirming,” I can’t help but think of “schmaltz” and “sap.” Now, I actually like the occasional sappy movie – after all, I am a girl, so it’s practically my God-given right and responsibility. But the ones that I like are usually romantic comedies, and “Emperor’s” is about a boys’ prep school, which is why I was surprised by how much I liked it.

Kevin Kline (“Life as a House”) stars as Mr. Hundert, a western civilization teacher specializing in Greek and Roman history at a fictional boys prep school, St. Benedictus. He’s a well-liked and respected teacher, and is expected to be headmaster one day.

In the mid-seventies, Sedgewick Bell (Emile Hirsch), a new student and troublemaker son of a busy senator, comes to the school and forever changes Hundert’s perspective on principles and life in general. His messy relationship with his father reminds Hundert of his own respective relationship with his father. He encourages Sedgewick to try harder in school, and Sedgewick becomes focused on an upcoming knowledge tournament for Hundert’s students. The tournament results in revelations for Hundert about Sedgewick’s values, and he finds that he can’t look at his student the same way again.Twenty-five years after his graduation, a grown-up Sedgewick invites the finalists of the tournament and the entire class to his company estate, where they can redo the tournament. If the recently retired Hundert resumes his role as moderator, Sedgewick promises to make a large donation to the school. The weary Hundert agrees. While at the estate, he is forced to reevaluate himself and his life, and whether or not he succeeded in his role in his students’ lives.

“The Emperor’s Club” is very well written, the actors excellent, with Kline and Hirsch in standout roles. Kline, always good, brings the subtlety that his character requires. Hirsch, a relative newcomer after his breakthrough part in this year’s “The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys,” does extremely well.

The film is not as preachy as one would expect. The ever-present conversations of morals and principles are balanced by humor. Without the humor, the film would be a caricature of itself.

While it may seem like a sequel to “Dead Poets Society,” the 1989 boys-prep-school-with-male-mentor drama, “The Emperor’s Club” stands on its own as an undoubtedly good film. Even if it’s not the most original movie out there, it has its moments and can be very thought provoking.It’s not a perfect film, of course – the second half lags, and it sometimes seems overly proud of itself. While hardly life affirming and a little schmaltzy, I’ve learned that last quality isn’t necessarily a bad thing.