School of (love for) rock

Rating: 7/10 (15 May 2004)

'School of rock' is the type of movie dedicated to a sector of life, which you will not enjoy really if you do not like the respective sector. This time this is about rock music, and as a rock music fan I enjoyed the film a lot. Still I am aware that rock music apart, this is just a 'feel good' film, a little above the average comedy. Just last week I gave a lower rate to 'Master and Commander' as the naval history epic says me nothing, and the film - which many enjoyed - seemed just boring to me. Many will have the opposite reaction, I am sure.
There is a message in this film about an aging and fatty rocker stealing a teacher job, just to turn his elementary school class in a band of rockers. The message is that rock music is a way of life - and it is presented as a superior one, and a culture revolution - which is is presented as positive and significant. Some may dispute these points, I happen to agree.

Jack Black is not the greatest comedian on earth, but he acts with passion. The kids succeed to be less sweet and conventional than you would be concerned, and this is certainly the director's merit. Music is fabulous. If you like rock, you may love this movie. If rock tells you nothing, avoid! 7/10 on my personal scale.