School of Rock
Jack Black isn’t your traditional leading man. He’s not tall. He’s not pretty-boy handsome. He’s not cut. He’s more like your best friend, dependable, funny, constantly aware of his place in life and comfortable with that knowledge. Jack Black seems like the kind of person you could hang out with, which is what makes “School of Rock” so inviting.
A perfect blend of harmless hi-jinks and heart, “School of Rock” is an unexpected change of pace from director Richard Linklater, whose characters usually sit around and talk about rather than live life. Desperately in need of a life is Dewey Finn (Black), who has been kicked out of his own band and is ready to loose his pad.
When fate throws Dewey a lifeline, he unabashedly grabs it, pretending to be his roommate in order to pull down a gig as a substitute teacher at a private school. James Brown may be the hardest working guy in show business, but Dewey becomes the hardest working teacher at Horace Green Prep, working overtime to cover his tracks and continue his charade.
“School of Rock” isn’t a brain trust of ideas and jokes, but it does feature an insightful screenplay by actor-writer Mike White, a frequent Black collaborator who fine tunes every scene, every word to Black’s unique blend of sardonic wit and inner child. The marriage between writer and star gives “School of Rock” an assured sense of purpose, incorporating broad strokes from other films into a tightly woven Cinderella story. Then again, what else would you expect from the writer of the warped and twisted “Chuck and Buck”?
You might say that “School of Rock” is one of the best non-Disney “Disney” films, a family friendly comedy that wrestles with familiar opponents yet feels fresh and inviting. Black perfectly conveys the spirit of a slacker who needs to grow up, and finds unlikely allies in a classroom full of children. Black reminded me of the constant con man, always scheming, and here he’s equals parts Whoopi Goldberg in “Sister Act” and Robert Preston in “The Music Man.”
Instead of following the assigned curriculum, Dewey turns his charges into a make-shift band, hoping to win an upcoming music contest while maintaining the illusion of being a teacher. There are some wonderful moments between Dewey and school principal Rosalie Mullins (the always delightful Joan Cusack), a lively cat and mouse relationship that plays out to its natural conclusion.
At first glance, “School of Rock” looks like another broad comedy aimed at a high school demographic, but upon closer inspection, you’ll discover a wonderful family comedy that treats its characters with respect. Despite some throwaway crude humor, “School of Rock” is actually very sweet. Dewey lies to become a substitute teacher, hoping to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes until he can raise some quick cash. When he’s first introduced to his class, he only sees them as instruments, a means to an end. Then something magical, if not unexpected, happens. Greed turns into genuine concern, and it’s here where “School of Rock” wanders into “Mr. Holland’s Opus” territory.
The biggest surprise of the film is director Linklater, whose previous films have been cynical diatribes of disenfranchised youth. “Slackers” was Linklater’s Valentine to the lost generations of the 1980s, while “Dazed and Confused” wrestled with themes of uncertainty and disillusionment. “School of Rock” is far and away Linklater’s most accessible film, a mainstream comedy grounded by independent roots.
Linklater and Black are a natural team, a director in need of a spirited mouthpiece, and an actor who has no problem vocalizing attitude. Like in “Shallow Hal,” Black also displays a sweet and unassuming side that makes Dewey a full-bodied character. We encourage his rebellion, and want to see him take something from the experience other than personal victory.
Cusack makes me smile. All she has to do is walk into the frame and I’m grinning. Cusack provides plenty of opportunity to grin in “School of Rock,” again playing an authority figure who doesn’t understand how little authority she really has. Cusack’s slow realization is extremely entertaining. So is “School of Rock,” which doesn’t ask much from its audience but delivers the goods.
ROCK OF AGESJack Black engaging as new age “Music Man“
SCHOOL OF ROCK
Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Sarah Silverman, Joey Gaydos Jr., Maryam Hassan, Kevin Clark, Rebecca Brown, Robert Tsai. Directed by Richard Linklater. Rated PG-13. 108 Minutes.
LARSEN RATING: $7.00
