The School of Rock

9/28/03 - Review

Jack Black is back in the movies with a starring role as eccentric rocker Dewey Finn.  Unlike most of his friends, he has stuck with the dream of making it big as a guitarist.  His dreams become shattered though when he is kicked out of his own band for his unusual behavior that consists of stage dives and 20 minute guitar solos.  Now with no job and no prospects, Dewey’s roommate, Ned Schneedbly, comes asking for $2200 in rent money that he is behind on.  Ned’s bitch of a girlfriend says that Dewey has a week to come up with the money or he will be kicked out of the apartment. 

Desperate for work, Dewey impersonates Ned as a substitute teacher for a top local prep school.  Instead of getting by without teaching the class of fifth graders anything, Dewey (now Ned) overhears one of the class’s music sessions.  He quickly turns the classroom into a music rehearsal room as visions of stardom fill his head.  Dewey turns these grade A students into the best young rock band ever with only one mission: to compete at the Battle of the Bands.  This mission has been proclaimed by Dewey as the class project and they must all participate if they want a good grade.  But with Principal Mullins lurking around every corner and watching his every move, it’s not going to be easy.  Dewey knows however, that one rock show has the power to change the World.

The School of Rock is a fresh, inspirational, and THE feel good movie of the year.  The movie will cater to kids and adults alike as there is something to satisfy every appetite.  Jack Black as a substitute teacher makes you want to go back to school again and do it all over.  Gone are the days of grades and tests in exchange for actually doing something worthwhile. 

At times the movie is really funny, but there is more to it than that.  You feel like you are witnessing some sort of magic or revolution that only comes along every so often.  Watching Jack Black interact with a bunch of fifth graders is a real sight to see.  As a substitute teacher, Jack Black has absolutely no skills but with his love for rock he touches and moves the children, much like he does with the audience. 

The story about a down and out rock guitarist is the perfect role for Jack Black, especially with his Tenacious D background which can be seen and heard often.  He delivers what could be his best acting performance to date.  Sure he has had some funnier movies, but this one actually has substance.  Watching him passing his love for rock onto the students is truly inspirational and has deeper meanings.  As a viewer, I could feel what Black was trying to convey when he was teaching the children.  At first it was about getting paid, but as he interacts more and more with the children, he becomes a changed man, one that is more responsible and willing to give into change and the ideas of others.  It is movies like this that will propel Jack Black into the A list of actors. 

The fifth grade students are the other main attraction here.  They all acted very mature for their age and you could believe that they were playing their respective instruments, probably because they actually were real musicians.  In the end when it looks like they would never compete with Black, they rallied together as a team because of what he taught them.  They learned so much from Jack Black in several weeks that they could have only hoped to learn while they were at the high price prep school.  Not that their parents would approve anyway. 

Joan Cusack played a good principal, one that struck fear into all the students.  Jack Black’s roommates were dull and underused, which is a good thing, especially for the bitch of a girl friend (Sarah Silverman) who threatens to ruin everything.  All in all, a good rounded cast, especially for the main stars. 

This is not a perfect movie to any extent but with Richard Linklater’s superb direction, the movie is a great watch for anybody.  He also picked a great soundtrack to complement that movie that contained many mainstream rock hits from years passed. 

If you need some inspiration or if you are looking for that movie to go to this fall, look no further than The School of Rock.  You will be touched and even more impressed by the performances by Jack Black and his class of fifth graders.

Grade

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