"School of Rock" is a movie about rock n' roll. You don't have to love machine-gun drumming and dramatic guitar solos to enjoy this movie, but it helps.
Black plays Dewey Finn, a rocker to the core, who yearns for the days of Led Zeppelin and AC/DC, before "the man" ruined music. Unfortunately, his over-the-top antics have gotten him kicked out of the band he started and his longtime friend and roommate, the appropriately named Ned Schneebly (Mike White), is pushing Finn to get a real job so that he can pay the rent. Finn's claim that he "serves society by rocking" falls on deaf ears as Schneebly's girlfriend pushes for his eviction.
Desperate for money, Finn finagles his way into a job as a substitute teacher at a ritzy private school. There, he tells the students that they have perpetual recess, explaining to them that he has a hangover and needs to rest. However, after hearing them in band practice, he realizes that within his class of fifth graders are the guitarists, drummers and back-up singers he needs to form a new rock group to compete at an upcoming Battle of the Bands with a $20,000 prize.
Black's character truly carries this movie. Finn is certainly a lazy man, but his passion for and confidence in rock makes him irresistible. Though he initially uses the class of talented musicians as a means to an end, his transformation from obsessed bandleader to concerned mentor is played out with just enough nuance and restraint to be believable. His rants about the "the man," his secret handshakes and attempts to fit in with the other teachers score big laughs, but he stays true to his character throughout the movie, stumbling through sets like George Costanza on Prozac.
His new band is composed of a talented young cast, all with genuine fifth-grader problems and all playing their real instruments. Guitarist Zack (Joey Gaydos) is hassled by his father to study more and play guitar less. Drummer Freddy (Kevin Clark) is a class clown with anger problems. Keyboardist Lawrence (Robert Tsai) is afraid that he is too nerdy for the band. Finn coaches each band member with screaming, ranting and air guitar solos. He occasionally lowers his voice when discussing more sensitive subjects, but is never responsible long enough to step out of character and become preachy. The movie walks a fine line between exuberant and sappy, at times tipping too far into the maudlin before Black's manic energy reels it back into fun. The Battle of the Bands finale is a showstopper and adds a very memorable touch to what is already a very likable movie.
Be warned, however, that this is a family movie. Jack Black seldom curses and makes drug references sparingly. There are some decidedly Disney plot curves (the strict parent learns to accepts his son's love of music, etc.) and a few too many heartwarming moments. One gets the feeling that without Jack Black's guidance, the movie may have fallen down the slippery slope of saccharine into the realm of "Kindergarten Cop" and
"The Emperor's Club." However, Black refuses to let this movie get too sentimental and is bolstered by strong performances of supporting actresses Joan Cusack, who plays the confused principal of the children's school, and Sarah Silverman, who is intolerably nagging as Ned Schneebly's girlfriend.
In one sequence, Dewey Finn sings "You're not hardcore unless you act hardcore." This movie is not hardcore, but it is funny and energetic and that is sufficient.