Fun to watch

Rating: 9/10 (7 April 2007)

Okay, (possible spoiler) The people who rate this as "trite" or "vapid" just miss the point. Everyone has a certain taste for movies and obviously nothing suits everyone. But I thought this movie was fun and amusing and cheered me up.
I'm sorry to react more to other reviewers reviews than to actually just review this movie but I was annoyed.
It wasn't meant to be taken seriously. No one claimed the music was stellar. It pretty much was exactly as the commercials depicted. A schlub of a guy teaching some uptight young kids to loosen up and learn to appreciate and play rock music. That's it.
The people leaving bad reviews saying the music was lame and how Jack Black stinks as a singer and musician don't understand that no one was saying the music would be great or that Jack Black was anything other than a guy who couldn't cut it in a real band and finally realized it. Jack wasn't trying to seem talented or anything - just enthusiastic about rock. A wannabee. And he woke up and found he could teach. Duh. He even says so in the movie "Those that can't do teach. And those that can't teach, teach gym.". Although he doesn't yet realize at that point that he may suck.
As for the comparisons to Sister Act, there may be similar qualities, but I didn't care for Sister Act very much and loved this. I don't even remember it, it was so long ago. It's just different even if the plot is similar. Try finding a movie that isn't similar in plot to another that's been made. And who cares if the plot is the same? If it's still amusing and you find it different than great. Really, some people see way too many movies.
If it had been a rip off of Sister Act and I never saw Sister Act and the characters and music are different where's the harm? And some people weren't born when Sister Act came out. Not everyone has seen every movie made. I've still never seen E.T. and many other classics.
It was fun to watch the transition when the kids moved from classical to rock instruments even if it was unrealistic to think they accomplished it all in three week.
Even the kids, who I was prepared to dislike because they were kids, were great. I think the fact that they were all relatively unknown helped. There was no "star kid".
If you don't like Jack Black you probably won't like it because he's his animated self. I would find him annoying if he weren't so human and kind seeming. I like him but can understand why others would not.
All in all I found it a funny, touching, movie with good music (classic rock soundtrack) and quite frankly was glad the kids were learning rock. Not enough kids today are growing up appreciating good rock.
It was just nice. And I'm actually quite fussy and will turn a movie off that I've rented and walk away if it's pathetic. But everyone's tastes are different. If you dislike silly scenarios, hyper actors, Jack Black, children, Joan Cusak (who was great), and rock music - or are particular about who plays the rock music than don't watch it. Otherwise give it a try. You can always turn it off.