School of Rock

Rating: 8/10 (16 August 2006)

I didn't realise that the main star of this film was really a singer and had his own band, so he was definitely the right choice for main character, and song writer/performer. Golden Globe nominated Jack Black stars as Dewey Finn, a rocker who has recently had a lowdown because his band is breaking up, but he vows to create his own new band to go to the Battle of the Bands. One day there is a call for Dewey's roommate, Ned Schneebly (Mike White), for a new substitute teacher at an elementary school, and he knows Ned gets loads a week for that, so he takes his place. When he goes to the school, he originally didn't care about teaching the kids anything, but when he hears them playing musical instruments, he gets the idea for a "special project". He gets these kids to practise playing rock music, studying it, creating all the necessary elements for a band, and assigning them all places in the band. Obviously he is doing this in secret, without Principal Rosalie Mullins (Toys' Joan Cusack) knowing. It is really good to see how enthusiastic Dewey is about rock, the preparation for the Battle of the Bands, and the kids are all fantastic. Also starring Adam Pascal as Theo, Lucas Papaelias as Neil, Chris Stack as Doug, Sarah Silverman as Patty Di Marco, Jordan-Claire Green as Michelle, Veronica Afflerbach as Eleni, Miranda Cosgrove as Summer Hathaway, Joey Gaydos Jr. as Zack Mooneyham, Angelo Massagli as Frankie and Kevin Alexander Clark as Freddy Jones. It won the British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Film. It was number 51 on The 100 Greatest Family Films and it was number 31 on The 50 Greatest Comedy Films. Very good!