The School of Rock Review
by Bob Bloom (bobbloom AT iquest DOT net)October 8th, 2003
SCHOOL OF ROCK (2003) 3 1/2 stars out of 4. Starring Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Sarah Silverman, Joey Gaydon Jr., Maryam Hassan, Kevin Clark, Rebecca Brown, Robert Tsai, Caitlin Hale, Aleisha Allen, Miranda Cosgrove and Brian Falduto. Written by Mike White. Directed by Richard Linklater. Rated PG-13.
Jack Black propels himself from supporting actor to star player with his manic portrayal in the subversive comedy, School of Rock.
Written by Mike White (The Good Girl) and directed by Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused), School of Rock could have been blown off the stage by sour notes in lesser hands. But White and Linklater keep the sentiment at a minimum and plug into Black's strengths, which first brought him to attention in High Fidelity.
Black plays overly-committed rocker Dewey Finn, who exhibits more drive and passion than talent. Kicked out of his band and threatened with eviction by the henpecked roommate, Ned (White), he has been mooching off for years, Dewey borrows Ned's name and his job as a substitute teacher at a high-class prep school.
At first Dewey is content allowing his 10-year-olds to have a full day of recess, but when he discovers they have musical talent, he organizes the class into a rock band, complete with costume designer, security and groupies, in order to enter and win a battle of the bands.
Along the way, he loosens up his charges, teaches them about the history of rock 'n' roll and gives them an education and appreciation of the music.
Black rocks as Dewey, simply because he refuses to treat the kids like children. Linklater eschews any sentimentality, holding what little there is in check.
Dewey's wild-eyed commitment to the music drives the film, as he explains to his youngsters that rock is a form of rebellion, a way of sticking it to "the Man."
The interaction between Black and the young actors comprising his class is rock solid. The kids teeter on archetypes -- the snooty grade-grubber who becomes the band's manager, the shy, overweight girl who finds self-confidence through singing, the uptight, parent-bullied guitarist who breaks out of his shell via his playing -- but they are a winning team of young performers.
Joan Cusack gives another of her wonderful comic turns as the prep school's tightly wound principal who seems always on the edge of a nervous breakdown, but who melts to the vocals of Stevie Nix.
White has written some sharp dialogue. At one point, Dewey denies his slacker status claiming that like his substitute-teacher roommate his single-minded focus on keeping the true spirit of rock alive is serving society.
The film's only discordant note comes from comedian Sarah Silverman, who is too naggish and shrill as Ned's pushy girlfriend who despises Dewey and wants him out of their lives.
School of Rock is a treat, a delight, a wonderful duet of comedy and music that will have you laughing and tapping your toes simultaneously.
Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or at [email protected]. Other reviews by Bloom can be found at www.jconline.com by clicking on movies.
Bloom's reviews also appear on the Web at the Rottentomatoes Web site, www.rottentomatoes.com and at the Internet Movie Database:
http://www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom
More on 'The School of Rock'...
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
