Cut footloose and attend The School of Rock

Rating: 8/10 (4 January 2012)

Just when you think kids movies hit an all time low along comes a film that shows that effort and life can still be injected into them. School of Rock was Jack Black's rebound after a string of critical failures like Orange County and Saving Silverman. He proves that, like Chris Farley in Tommy Boy, he can play the lovable louse in a clean yet fun manner appealing to many different audiences.
Though it's a kids movies, I can see adults enjoying it more. At least understanding it more. It focuses a lot on the history of rock and many bands rock icons such as AC/DC, Black Sabbath, and Led Zepplin that I'm not sure many kid would instantaneously recognize. But it has enough slapstick humor, colors, and off the wall humor for them to still be interested or at least amused in the storyline.
The story follows Dewey Finn (Black) a layabout who has been mooching off his roommate Ned Schneebly (White) for rent money. After Ned's girlfriend gets fed up with his behavior, they both force Dewey to get a job and pay them by the end of the week. Since Ned is a substitute teacher, Dewey gets a call one day from prestigious elementary school in Woodbury, New York asking for Ned to fill in for a week or so. Dewey pretends to be Ned so he can fill in for the position and collect the check.
At first, he goes down the lackadaisical route and just lets the children do whatever they want. Soon, he discovers that they are very tightly wound, but can play instruments very well, each with their own talent. It then becomes clear that Dewey must teach these kids how to overcome their drone-like lifestyles and, well, rock out.
Avoiding clichés, Dewey doesn't just take one student under his wing to befriend them, he takes them all, each giving them an equal amount of screen time. It has almost become a law that when a movie has a teacher for the main character, he/she must take them under their wing and guide them through their troubles. Here, Dewey assists each one. All the kids are stuck in the same boat of being put under a very large amount of pressure, but everyone has their own hidden talent they can't show. That's why they need Dewey.
Jack Black is a charismatic joy in the film. He's crazy, yet lovable in a way that is hard to accomplish. He sometimes goes overboard, but he quickly stops himself to regain his previous behaviors. It's a little hard to identify what makes him so likable. I think it's because so many characters on Television and in movies try too hard to be liked, and out of the blue we get this character who is inspiring, hip, exciting, unpredictable, and funny.
I was reminded of the 80's hit Footloose more than once during this film. That was a film I think I saw in the wrong time period, thus cementing my dislike for its messy execution. It simply tried to be too many things and didn't do a very good job at any of them. School of Rock has the same sort of message, but both films have seriously different plots. Footloose centers around a town on the verge of banning music, but teenagers across the town say it's one of the many forms of "cutting loose" in the world. School of Rock is about a genial sack who pretends to be a teacher to get a job at a school so he can obtain money, but then it becomes clear he wants to teach the tightly-wound runts to "cut loose" as well. Both films are about being yourself, individuality, and sticking it to "the man," but School of Rock does it in a more fun and controlled manner.
It had been solely for the music and the message I would've recommended it, but the fact that it features a great cast of kids and a strong and sentimental lead actor seals the deal of this not only being a great movie but a proof that fun kids films still exist. School of Rock is a big-hearted, energetic, joyous exercise in the field of comedy proving that it can appeal to those who pay for the ticket and those who go along for ride.
The MPAA can also thank themselves for giving a perfect film for ages seven and up a PG-13 rating.
Starring: Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Miranda Cosgrove, Sarah Silverman, and Adam Pascal. Directed by: Richard Linklater.