School of Rock

The Film That Made Jack Black The Ultimate Teacher

Director: Richard Linklater

Release Date: 2003

Rating: PG

Running Time: 108mins

Genre: Comedy / Music

Actors: Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Miranda Cosgrove 

'Stick it to the man!'

After being kicked out of his band against his will, Dewey Finn (Jack Black) needs money fast and decides to take on a class of bored and unhappy private school kids by impersonating his room-mate Ned Schneibly, an ex band mate turned wimpy substitute teacher. Whilst teaching at the school Dewey learns very quickly that these kids are capable of being incredibly talented musicians after seeing them in band practice, so he straight away pounces and introduces them into the world of Rock and Roll. Steering the kids further away from their boring day to day lives, Dewey transforms them into his band by teaching them how to perform and work a live show getting them ready to enter the competition Dewey's been waiting for Battle of the Bands. But can Dewey manage all this without arousing suspicion from the uptight parents of these children and the strict and scary head teacher Joan Cussack?

For me 'School of Rock' is still Jack Black's greatest role to date and I don't know a single person who wouldn't have loved him to be their teacher when they were at school. Throughout the film despite being a phony teacher and risking the schools reputation, you can't help but love him and want the kids to succeed in reaching battle of the bands. Despite 'School of Rock' being a fairly light and wholly enjoyable there are a few tense moments in there given the task that Dewey and the kids are trying to pull off, particularly
when Dewey is made to go into the school during parents evening to give a speech to all the parents and students on what he's been teaching his class, answer...not much.

What's so great about this film is the way that Jack Black is able to inspire a whole generation by showing them the sheer brilliance of rock music, I think it's safe to guess that 'School of Rock' no doubt inspired tons of children to pursue learning instruments and forming bands after watching the film.  One scene that stands out is when Dewey gets some of the students up one at a time and teaches them how to play some instruments and then in unison they play Smoke on the Water where we can see Jack Black perform a hilarious yet impressive guitar solo. We can see the impact that the music has on these children's lives but also the impact that these children have on Dewey's life, one scene we even hear him say that the children teach the teachers and as the film develops this grows noticeably more and more true.

'School of Rock' is one of those films that people can sit down and watch over and over and never grow tired of, it's so brilliantly funny and original that you just never really want it to end. With a fantastic soundtrack of both old and new songs from the film, some brilliantly upbeat montages and some fantastically funny facial expressions from Jack Black we are able to see just how much of an impact these children are having on Dewey and vice versa. A truly legendary film no one can ever get bored of.

'Lets get Rocking!'

10/10