Michelle Pfeiffer’s done it. Morgan Freeman, Edward James Olmos and even Sydney Poitier have done it. Now Hilary Swank does her own “To Sir with Dangerous Minds that Lean on Me and Stand and Deliver” by playing another creative, unwavering do-gooder educator devoted to redeeming delinquent students.

Yes, it’s earnest. And, yes, it’s a familiar template.