Photo courtesy of Paramount
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By Nate Buchik
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday, October 2, 2003
RATING: 4.0
"I serve society by rocking," says Jack Black, playing the character of Dewey Finn in "School of Rock."
In a role that was built for him, Black doesn't have to look far to find his inspiration for the film. Dewey Finn is Tenacious D. Dewey Finn is Jack Black.
Now I'm not saying that this isn't a great character, or that Black is not a talented actor. Tenacious D is hilarious, Jack Black is hilarious and Dewey Finn - you guessed it - is hilarious.
Finn is a loveable loser dedicated to making music and staying true to that music. He's kicked out of his band just before the Battle of the Bands contest because his stage antics are too hardcore.
The same day he is told that he might be kicked out of his friend Ned's (Mike White, who also wrote the script) house, because the girlfriend (Sarah Silverman) doesn't like the constant mooching. Now, mooching off your friends is clearly necessary when you are a struggling musician, but she doesn't recognize that.
So Finn has to get some money to pay rent, and find a new band to prove that he isn't a loser.
Finn ends up impersonating Ned and substituting at a private elementary school. After hearing his class play music, he decides to make them into a band as a class project. He gives everyone jobs in the band (lead guitarist to groupie), teaches them the history of rock, how to find passion for rocking out, and some songs to perform at Battle of the Bands.
Photo courtesy of Paramount
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Of course, he has to hide everything from Ned, the principal and the children's parents.
The movie consists almost entirely of classroom scenes, letting Black run rampant with the kids. And the kids, most of them first time actors, aren't that bad. And the kids play their own instruments! Seriously. The lead guitarist is actually a sixth grader who can shred, and the drummer has pretty good technique at 14.
The film has touching moments between Black and his kids, and a finish that evokes memories of "8 Mile." And Black gives people from every age group something to laugh at.
