Black and White, together again!

Rating: 10/10 (20 October 2003)

I've been a huge fan of writer genius Mike White's since Chuck and Buck, and I'm thrilled to see him achieving major commercial success with this movie, which goes right up there with C and B as one of my favorite movies of all time.
This is the vehicle that was custom-made for Jack Black (who worked with White on Orange County) - nobody could have brought Dewey Finn to life with any more energy than he does; he RULES this film from start to finish, although the kids are fantastic as well, and Mike White, casting himself as Dewey's p-whipped roomie, Ned Schneebly (can you even SAY that name without laughing?), is extremely effective as well, happy to just be there and let Jack shine. And the great Joan Cusack nails all her scenes as only she can, adding yet another non-stereotypical element to the proceedings.

You don't have to be a musician or even a fan of rock music to get off on this film, which, at its heart, is about finding yourself and remaining true to that self against all the odds, and the coolest thing about the movie is how White's script never gets preachy or heavy-handed but the message is there, grinning at us between the lines of every heart-felt frame.