A winning concoction

Rating: 7/10 (6 October 2015)

"School of Rock" is one of those movies where the casting is key. It's got a good story, but if you don't have an endearing lead and a great group of kids for him to teach, there's really no movie. Hack Black's perpetual motion (er, spasticity?) does a lot to make this movie work, and he's got a genuine rapport with these kids (musically talented in their own right). The story doesn't really hold any surprises; the jig's coming up and you can see it from afar), but the stand-up message is worth it. And it's overall some good fun. Black always struck me as a polarizing screen presence, but here, he's a charmer.
7/10