School Of Rock Details

More than adequate if unmemorable family pleasing comedy.

After being booted out of his band for his old-school exuberance, layabout axeman Dewey Finn (Jack Black) tries to scrape some cash together by passing himself off as a teacher to a class of industrious ten year olds at a prestigious school. It's there he has the crazy idea to enter the upcoming Battle of the Bands with a new band formed from his class. While this family comedy hits all of the usual 'believe in yourself' and 'hard work pays off' touchstones it succeeds in being amusing and entertaining throughout. Director Richard Linklater ekes a great performance from the cast of children who never seem precocious despite their prodigious talent, and that's probably its trump card. Jack Black plays the same role as he usually does, an over-the-top Spinal Tap refugee but manages to keep well to the right side of the funny/irritating divide. It's only real failing is it's lack of any particularly memorable gags, so the laughter is unlikely to follow you out of the cinema on the trip home. Still, an above average family comedy that ought to keep kids and parents alike amused.

One of those feel-good kind of movies about a loser bonding with children and finding his own sense of self-worth in the process. The amazing thing was how incredibly talented those children are musically!