Public Servant Lifestyle

Jack Black goes back to high school to rediscover the mystery of rock - and the majesty of roll.

School of Rock

Hell-raising guitarist Dewey Finn (played by one half of part-time rock act Tenacious D, and star of films like The Holiday, Orange County and Peter Jackson's King Kong, Mr. Jack Black) is anti-establishment to the hilt. Irreverent to the max Finn worships both the magical power of rock and the mystical power of roll.

With a penchant for stage-dives and 20-minute solos, Dewy is determined to lead his rock group to victory at the local Battle of the Bands...but his band mates fire him instead. Down-and-out, in need of rent money and wallowing in his apartment strewn with take-out containers, Dewey picks up a phone call intended for his roommate Ned (Mike White), and impulsively accepts a job as a substitute teacher at the prestigious Horace Green Elementary School.

School Teacher

There, by-the-book Principal Mullins (Joan Cusack) watches his every move like a hawk. But while Dewey might not have a clue how to teach, he does know how to inspire confidence in his young fifth graders. And when he accidentally overhears them performing in an orchestra class, he decides to mould these young musical prodigies into a high-voltage rock band, which will change their lives forever.

Directed by Richard (Slacker) Linklater, School of Rock was produced by Scott Rudin, written by Mike White and also features Joan Cusack, Mike White and Sarah Silverman.

The executive producers are Steve Nicolaides and Scott Aversano, the director of photography is Rogier Stoffers, N.S.C., the production designer is Jeremy Conway, the editor is Sandra Adair, and the costume designer is Karen Patch. Randall Poster serves as the music supervisor and Craig Wedren composed the musical score.

At times seemingly a whole film based on imagery from Yo La Tengo's 'Rock School' promo video for 2000's Sugarcube - in which the Hoboken three-piece are literally sent back to rock and roll high school to learn the tricks of the trade - the picture is, nevertheless a charm. Shades of the masterful Spinal Tap, together with new release A Mighty Wind - mix with a healthy dose of traditional US high school rites of passage movies and TV shows, from Buffy The Vampire Slayer to Flashdance this is a pleasing musical romp akin to a sort of 'Wedding Singer meets The Belle's of St. Trinians.

Here's what some of the critics have made of School of Rock:

"Despite Black's reputation as a comedy anarchist, the movie has a big heart, avoids crude indulgence, and gives viewers of all ages something to enjoy." - Jeffrey Overstreet (Christianity Today).

"A film about the passion of rock and teaching, School of Rock thrives off the talent of its youthful cast and Richard Linklater's storytelling. Rock and Roll Forever!" Jimmy O (Film Snobs).

"Black is still a happy geek in perpetual overdrive, only now he draws on his musical skill, and his hipster shamelessness, to deliver the acting equivalent of a perfect power chord crunched with a demon smile. - Owen Gleiberman (Entertainment Weekly).

"With a smart script by Mike White...deft direction by Linklater and an electric lead performance by the manic comic livewire Jack Black, School of Rock manages to be the year's most invigorating piece of popcorn." - Rick Curnutte (TheFilmJournal.com).

Special features on the DVD of School of Rock shape up like this:

More information available in DVD / Home Video, Humour, Music