For those about to rock...
The Story:
Dewey Finn (Jack Black) is having a bad life. He gets kicked out of his band, and his roommate Ned (Mike White) needs him to get a job and pay rent, or get out. At least, that's what Ned's girlfriend (Sarah Silverman) says. Fate intervenes as Dewey gets a phone call needing Ned to substitute, long term, at a local 4th grade school. Desperate, he pretends to be Ned and takes the gig. As time passes, he starts talking music with the kids, and decides that they are going to study ROCK! In fact, they are going to go to the Battle of the Bands and win $25,000!!! What starts as a purely selfish reasons will take on something more as Dewey grows to appreciate what the kids really have to offer.
I've probably seen this movie way too much, but I can't help it. It's fun. It's funny. The music is good and the performances are terrific.
Black is a restrained maniac in this film, playing essentially, himself. He is charming and hard to resist, even if the principal (Joan Cusack) tries.
Naturally, his enlistment of the entire class into his Band Project is tough to keep a secret, but the kids all do a bang-up job as his accomplices.
The climax comes when Dewey is found out as a fraud the day before the band and his whole world comes crashing down.
Luckily, he's got a band who's willing and able to pick up the pieces.
They provide a rousing, and slightly unexpected finale to the movie that works better than the obvious answer would have been.
Well played School of Rock, well played.
Final Grade: A-
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it, and yes, I could probably watch it anytime. : )
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