School of Rock
On a whim I bought the DVD for School of Rock.
10 bucks, why not?
I had generally heard good things about School of Rock, and I am glad to report [in that institutional voice] it generally holds up to the hype.
Jack Black plays Dewey Finn, a rocker who hasn't made it, and probably won't make it either. He gets by freeloading off of his best friend, a teacher. With a phone call from Joan Cusack {great as always}and some voice work and phone fumbling on the part of Dewey Finn, he gets a job as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school.
This movie revolves around Jack Black, and he carries. I wouldn't go a far to stay he is brilliant in it, but it is difficult to see any other actor in the role of Dewey Finn, because Jack Black makes it his own. He just brings a lot of passion, and good times to role that makes the movie an enjoyable time.
How he makes his class into a rock band is also fun. They don't sound half bad either. They're not exactly Motley Crue {"Motley Crue has experiences"} but they have fun. All the child actors also do a good job, and don't bring shame to their profession or their instruments. Hopefully they won't be spending small fortunes on psychiatric help in the future {Dakota Fanning has my vote for being the next broken down child actor}.
Overall School of Rock promises fun and good times, and delivers. 3 out 4 stars.