movie's 411

>> SCHOOL OF ROCK

Starring: Jack Black, Joan White, Mike White, and more...
Director: Richard Linklater
Genre: Comedy




jack black is a talented and humurous actor. i've always been a big fan since the beginning, especially during his performance in "high fidelity", in which i find to be highly enjoyable and definitely his best "fit". in the school of rock, jack black is presented with an even better fit. it lets him take his passion for rock music to a level above what we saw in "high fidelity". thus, for any who enjoyed jack's performance in high fidelity, this is a must see. guaranteed fun!!! the film, however, has such a strong family-friendly, "feel good" tone to it that it will appeal to many who would normally have no interest in jack's other films (many of them, including "high fidelity", have material not appropriately suited for elementary-aged children). and what is more amazing is that he sends a well-message to kids in this movie about rock music, its lifestyles, and what is rock all about.

black plays dewey finn, a malcontent rocker who's been kicked out of his own band just before the career-making Battle of the Bands, a competition dewey feels fated to win. dewey's in arrears on his rent to his ex-rocker substitute teacher roommate, ned (screenwriter mike white), and one broke morning when a school calls looking for a sub, dewey figures he can make some easy bread filling in his roommate's shoes at a chi-chi private school. when his precocious, pampered pre-teen students reveal themselves as skilled classical musicians, dewey comes up with a project for his class: winning the Battle of the Bands. …

school of rock's premise is more inspired than naturalistic, and none of it would work if it weren't for the sheer star power black brings to dewey. he gives dewey a sense of true dimwit brilliance coupled with a good heart, all wrapped around a core of energy and enthusiasm as powerful and unstable as old nitro.

black may be the most visible front man for the project, like the lead singer in a power trio, but director richard linklater (dazed and confused, waking life) and screenwriter mike white (the good girl, orange county) are just as responsible for how immensely satisfying school of rock is. linklater's no stranger to the love of great loud music, and while school of rock might be the most warm and sweet thing white has ever written, it still has all the smart, sharp comedy he's displayed in films as diverse as chuck and buck and orange county.

perhaps the most fascinating aspect of school of rock is how honestly heartfelt and touching it is. as dewey turns bland kids into band kids, he helps them grow -- and comes right along with them. when keyboard prodigy larry (robert tsai) tries to resign from the band because he believes he's not cool, black talks him back into it. of all the film's warm, unforced messages, it may be this one -- that you don't have to be cool to be cool, that rock and roll is a republic of the people, not a kingdom of elites -- that kids need to hear most. there are so many good messages this movie sends to kids that it gives you hope that rock is not all about drugs & sex. "rock is all about the music, not the shows.."

more important, school of rock is fun, as black teaches his charges such basics of rock and roll as the theory and practice of stickin' it to The Man, led zeppelin riffs and why you have to "roll your eyes back in your head like there's something wrong with you" when you play a guitar solo. school of rock is a sharply made, exuberantly performed and rousing comedy like we haven't seen in a long time, and if you aren't throwing devil-fingers in the air out of joy and admiration by the end of it, you're probably no fun at parties -- or, possibly, you're even The Man. this is definitely a must-see movie if you're into rock and roll. there's nothing like watching a movie about kids going to school and handed out jimi hendrix cd as homework and play rock music all day long. rock on!

other quote i like:
"those who can't find a job, teach! those who can't teach, teach gym!"

>> rated by :: sLesTa | [ ]

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