Stand and Deliver: Did This Movie Really Inspire a Gen?

Okay, so I finally got around to watching "Stand and Deliver" after hearing about it for YEARS. As a teacher's kid, I'm always drawn to movies about educators making a difference. And, yeah, Edward James Olmos is amazing as Jaime Escalante. He chews up the scenery but in a way that’s totally believable, you know? Like this guy just bleeds passion for these kids and their potential. I especially liked the scenes where he's using stuff they're familiar with, like car engines and pool, to explain math concepts. That felt really smart and effective, not just cheesy Hollywood. What surprised me, though, was how dated it feels in some ways. Like, the whole “gang member turned math whiz” trope? It skirts pretty close to stereotype territory, even if the individual characters are fleshed out. And the big dramatic scenes where they're facing accusations of cheating? My suspension of disbelief was streched there, especially the ending. Still, it definitely has its moments. I teared up when they all passed the calculus exam. That montage was just straight up feel-good cinema. And Olmos' performance alone is worth the watch. I'm still debating whether it deserves all the hype, but it's certainly a solid and inspiring movie. Anyone else feel like it's a bit...overrated these days, or am I just being cynical? Also, someone wanna fill me in on the director? The credits were REALLY vague.