Corporate Line: Fired from his band, rock guitarist and vocalist Dewey Finn (Black) takes a job as a 4th grade substitute teacher at an uptight private school where his free livin’ lifestyle, attitude, music and antics soon influences the students to explore other sides of themselves the school doesn’t encourage. Finn’s real goal in taking the job is to recruit a 9-year-old guitar prodigy, Yuki, to become the lead guitarist in a band that would be able to win a “battle of bands”, solving Finn’s money problems and re-establishing him as a respected rocker.
The Good: Jack Black, dare I say, is the funniest actor I’ve seen in a decade, perhaps longer. I heard someone mention, as we left the screening, that Black was a modern day Belushi. If we were comparing films I’d dare say he’s far surpassed him. Black is not only great at delivering a joke, but his body language is funnier than even Jim Carrey. I have to admit the faces Black made almost reminded me of the Grinch and wondered just how good that movie might have been if Carrey had given the green mug to Black.
I can honestly say that I haven’t laughed this hard at a film maybe ever. Black does something that is harder than it looks, delivers laughs with kids. Eddie Murphy tried it and failed miserable, and the list goes on from there. Speaking of the kids, what a great group they put together. Each was perfectly cast from the band manager right down to the background singers – and boy could they sing.
I thought the film might end up being a vehicle for Black to bring his ‘music career’ to the masses – instead he just might bring his movie career to those said masses. If this doesn’t make him the funniest man on the planet then perhaps I’m missing something. Don’t believe it? Ask yourself; when is the last time you saw a film that had you absolutely laughing out loud with every scene – and to say you only laugh out loud once per scene is not doing this film justice.
The moment I left the film the first thing on my mind was; when can I see it again. Jack Black rocks!
The Bad: It ended.
Frankly: How much is tuition to the School of Rock? Put me down for a semester so that I can become a disciple.
+ Charlie Craine
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