Safe and Disappointing

Rating: 5/10 (11 March 2004)

Based on Jack Black's brilliant characterization in "High Fidelity" I was very much looking forward to this movie. I was expecting Mr. Black to take a character something like that further. Instead, I found the movie and the characterization both a dumbing down and flattening out. The same predictable jokes and shticks are repeated ad nauseam inside the most well-worn movie formula: "let's put on a show and save the teacher"/"let's put on a show and save the spontaneity/innocent joy/etc of the kids" (of which qualities we see precious little). No surprise, inspiration, nor creativity in the dialog or plot. It's rather sad to see Mr. Black pumping more and more energy into his performance hoping for funny or inspired and achieving only dead-end maniac.
Still, I look forward to Jack Black's next effort. Someone please let this creative spirit out of the box!