School of Rock
{4.5/5} “Dude, I service society by rocking, OK? I’m out there on the front lines liberating people with my music!”
School of Rock, released in 2003
Dewey Finn’s band fires him, and he’s trying to find some new bandmates. When a private school calls for his roommate who’s a substitute teacher Dewey takes his place, thinking it will be easy money. At first Dewey tells the class it’s recess all the time, but then he comes up with a different plan — he will form a band with his students and win “Battle of the Bands.”
This is Jack Black’s movie — his obvious enthusiasm for the subject is infectious. He’s absurdly over the top but in this case it works. In fact, this movie probably wouldn’t work without him.
The kids are great — they can all play the instruments they’re seen to be playing. The songs that the band plays are terrific.
I still think it’s very funny. You can’t quite think of this story as taking place in the real world — but that’s probably true of all comedies.
Stars Joan Cusak, Sarah Silverman, and Miranda Cosgrove. Directed by Richard Linklater (Before Sunrise).
This is probably the 3rd time I’ve seen it.