Back In Black (Jack Black's hilarious world anyway)

Rating: 8/10 (1 August 2004)

SPOILERS
There's always films out there which run along the same plot of a loser who turns a child (or loads of children's) life around. It's hardly the most unique of ideas, and yet in "The School of Rock", Jack Black manages to give us a fun, easy going film, with an absolutely stunning soundtrack.
In his first decent lead performance (ignoring 2001's awful "Shallow Hal"), Black plays Dewey Finn. Finn is a no-hoper who spends all his time playing rock rather than getting a job. His best friend and flatmate has cut his hair and stopped being a goth. This friend Ned (writer of the film and Black's old friend Mike White) has settled down with bitchy Patty (Sarah Silverman) and is now a substitute teacher. One day, Finn receives a phone call for Ned and in a moment of weakness, he pretends to be his friend to earn some money. Lazing around, Finn is useless until he hears the children playing in a music class. Inspired, he leads them through the basics of rock and teaches them to shake the world.
Simply put, without Jack Black, this film would be abysmal. At the same time though, since White actually wrote the film FOR Black, without him it wouldn't have been made. It's a pure Jack Black driven comedy and he is wonderful in it. Running around and being so energetic that it's a wonder he survived, Black is superb as the guitarist who wants to pass on the genius of past masters to a younger generation. Leading a team of specifically recruited musical children, Black spends the majority of the film jamming and listening to such legends as AC/DC, Black Sabbath and the god-like Led Zeppelin.
Aside from Black's extreme performance and the absolutely breathtaking soundtrack, the film's young cast are also superb, demonstrating musical abilities which a lot of people would die for (myself included). Joey Gaydos Junior as Zach is in particular amazing and whilst maybe still slightly too young, in not that long he could be the lead guitarist for yet another amazing Detroit band.
Finally it's possibly worth praising Richard Linklater for doing a good job as director. Whilst often focusing on short stories and more indie films (his following film being 2004's "Before Sunset"), Linklater has done a superb job allowing Black to run riot and simply record it.
To sum the film up, it's not perfect, but it was never going to be. It's a pure Jack Black vehicle, but with a jaw dropping soundtrack and some amazing musical talent by Black's young supporting cast, the film is brilliant. Watch and enjoy.