The School of Rock

If you don't like Jack Black, then this film might not be for you. If you do like him, then you will enjoy The School of Rock, because it captures the essence of Jack Black on celluloid in all its glory. Black is a funny man; he's got a funny face, a voice that oozes funniness, and his comic timing is a delight. From his part in the hilarious rock duo, Tenacious D., with their songs like 'Fuck Her Gently' (sample lyrics: 'fuck her sweetly/ fuck her discretely), to his various smaller turns in other films, like his scene-stealing record shop assistant in High Fidelity, to his role as the stoned slacker brother in Orange County, Black throws out comedy gold where he can. Admittedly, Shallow Hal wasn't so great, but nobody's perfect.

Black is Dewey Finn, lead guitarist in a band he created that throws him out for his 'rocking out' affecting their chances of a record deal, who mooches off a friend while he tries to make it big. The friend is played by Mike White, who also wrote the film, and who also shared an apartment with Black in real life, for those of you who like to keep track of these things. To get the ball rolling, White's girlfriend demands rent money from Dewey, or he'll be thrown out, so he pretends to be his roommate and gets a position as a substitute teacher in a prestigious prep primary school. There, after finding out that the kids play musical instruments, he decides to use them to make a rock band to enter the Battle of the Bands competition, to get one more chance to rock out and give the ultimate performance, the most important thing for any rocker to do.

This is not the greatest film in the world, by any means, but it does what it sets out to do, which is to entertain and make you laugh. Black is very funny and kids are not annoying, which is always a help. Joan Cusack is note-perfect as the uptight principal of the school with a desire to relax. The jokes keep coming, and the feel-good vibe carries you along, even if you don't particularly like rock music. The end, where the parents realise what talents their kids have outside of academic excellence, is perhaps unnecessary, but you feel it is a requirement of the genre. At least the kids don't win the competition, but win the moral victory instead, and you have to admire everyone involved for making a fun film. This is particularly so of director Richard Linklater, not one noted for his making a mainstream comedy, but who has fun with the idea and doesn't let it become too Disney, which was always the worry. The only question I have it that, if the reason for rock is to stick it to The Man and not sell out to globalisation, have they done the complete opposite by making a mainstream film about the very same concept within the confines of a studio film? Perhaps the answer belongs in the realms of more astute social commentators than myself but, in the end, it doesn't really matter if you get to enjoy yourself so much along the way.

Rating: VID