Mary Beth McGarricle (Eva Amurri and Susan Sarandon) is a villainess from the 2012 comedy, That's My Boy.
Backstory[]
The film's opening introduced Mary McGarricle as a math teacher at a junior high school attended by main protagonist Donny Berger, who informed his friends that he had a crush on Mary.
However, Donny's verbal advances towards Mary were met with a stern reprimand, as Mary reminded Donny that she was his teacher, and later gave him a month's detention after Donny's continued flirting with her. In detention, Mary scolded Donny for his infatuation with her, with Donny denying that he had a crush on her before Mary was about to admonish Donny again for chewing gum.
Heel Turn[]
To Donny's surprise, Mary suddenly turned heel by acting seductively towards Donny, which began with taking Donny's gum and chewing it herself. She later opened her blouse and revealed that she had been checking Donny out herself, after which she took Donny (who was 13 at the time) to her office for a sexual tryst. This was witnessed by one of his friends who was shocked by the sight.
The trysts between Mary and Donny continued on in the months that followed, until they were caught having sex during a school assembly, much to the villainous teacher's shock and horror. She covered herself with a school flag, as she ran off stage and was arrested while Donny's peers cheered him on.
Events[]
Mary in prison during the film's events
Mary and Donny's relationship resulted in the former becoming pregnant with their son, originally named Han Solo Berger by Donny (later changed to Todd Peterson). In court, it was revealed in her letter that she was actually proud of the relationship, eliciting a smile from Donny. Due to Mary's lack of remorse for her actions, she was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with Mary telling Donny to take care of their child as she was being taken away.
Mary resurfaced in a brief scene in the film's events, as Todd visited his mother on the original request of Donny, who was planning to set up a televised reunion for a $50,000 payout due to a debt to the IRS but backed out of the plan due to enjoying spending time with his son shortly before his planned wedding.
Mary's reunion with Donny and Todd saw her explicitly reminisce about her relationship with Donny, and once the TV cameras appeared, Mary lambasted Donny for his original plan to feature them on TV. After Todd ran off in anger--despite Donny stating that he changed his mind about the TV deal--Mary again reminded Donny to take care of their son.
Trivia[]
- She is based on Debra Lafave and Mary Kay Letorneau. Both were teachers who became sex offenders.
- To prepare for the role, Eva Amurri and Susan Sarandon studied the lives and cases of the two teachers and as such, incorporated several of their characteristics to the character.
- Eva Amurri was credited under her then-married name, Eva Amurri Martino.
- Susan Sarandon is the real-life mother of Eva Amurri.