School Of Rock

What's the Plot?

Dewey Finn ( Jack Black ) is living out the "rock and roll dream." Stage dives; 20 minute guitar solos; no job; Dewey is doing it all. Except that no one catches him on his dives and his band - that HE started - have dumped him. Wallowing in self-pity, Dewey retreats to his shared apartment where he takes a call intended for his roommate Ned (Mike White), offering him a job as substitute teacher at the prestigious Horace Green Elementary School. Desperate for rent money, Dewey passes himself off as Ned and accepts the "gig." Once there, Dewey finds himself under the ever-watchful eye of Principal Mullins (Joan Cusack) and his rather skeptical fifth grade students who have never had "play time", especially for a whole day while teacher works off his hangover. However, when he accidentally overhears them playing in music class, he realises that these young prodigies can become so much more, and if he can get away with it, help him win the Battle Of The Bands competition. All he has to do is replace Handle with Hendrix, get the kids to become his rock band and enter them in the competition. And win. Without getting caught out and being exposed as a fraud. Easy.

The Review

There are films that are the perfect vehicle for actors: Jim Carrey's Ace Ventura, Tom Hanks' Big etc. School Of Rock IS Jack Black's vehicle. It's a 4X4 that easily runs over the plot holes and similarities to other movies, leaving you with a satisfied grin on your face and a sense of well-being as the end credits roll with an impromptu gig performed by Black and his kids' rock group during the upward scrawl. The basic plot is that of Dead Poet's Society with the rebellious school children commandeering a bus to get to the Battle Of The Bands instead of standing on desks to show their defiance and love for their teacher.

The fact that Black has his own band - The Tenatious D - and that he actually sang at the end of High Fidelity shows up on every musical moment upon the big screen. Black rocks and obviously loves to rock. Like Williams made you believe that he could inspire in his Mr. Chips-type role, so to does Jack, and with this comes an engulfing persona, where every joke hits it's target. Even the dubious ones where, innocently, he tells the shocked parents after he's been discovered, that " I'm not a licensed teacher, but I've been touched by your kids and I'm sure that I touched them."

So, no lazy, watered down comedy here folks! The plot may steer into "clichéd" waters a little too often - the kid being held back by his over-powering father; the kid with a great voice who's scared of her appearance and won't sing in public incase people laugh; the cold Head who just wants to be understood ( and in this case, rock to Stevie Nicks ); they're all present and correct but, you can forgive them for it cause Black just wades through them with guitar in hand. The supporting cast do their roles satisfactorily, but, lets face it. This is all Jack's, and we can't wait to have him back. Stick it to the man!

STEVE'S SCORE