Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I enjoyed every minute of this film. Jack Black is on fire in this one. Mike White's script is very very strong and well written as I would have expected. Linklater's direction is spot on throughout particularly in the scenes involving the music. The kids are astonishing. All of them should have gotten some kind of ensemble award. This is a very entertaining film that is definitely worth owning.
Rating: 
Summary: School of Dull
Review: Honestly, I really like Jack Black, but his talents are wasted in this film. I just didn't find it funny. There were some pop culture moments that were humorous, but nothing to laugh out loud about. Maybe it's just not my type of comedy? The kids were dull. I could care less if they played really well. OK, the kids were boring. There, I said it. Let the heavens fall. Was this about kids finding a new means of self-expression a la Dead Poets Society? No, it was about Jack Black's character needing rent money. Yawn. Dull. Forgettable.
Rating: 
Summary: As the Movie Ended...
Review: ...I made the comment of how it was unbelieveable, a much used formula ("Sister Act"), etc., yet very entertaining. I found myself smiling all through the film. Jack Black is excellent and the kids are all winners. The only reason I give it four stars out of five are the things mentioned above. I highly recommend this film to all who need a happy, feel good comedy in order to take a break from this crazy world of ours.
Rating:
Summary: Jack Black's finest hour
Review: This is without a doubt, Jack Black's finest hour, and makes you realize that in movies like the wonderful SHALLOW HAL and the marginally funny ORANGE COUNTY, we only got a taste of what Jack Black could pull off. This movie is different in many ways, for instance, it was written FOR him by someone who KNEW him personally, rather then just meeting him at an audition. And Jack Black is an extremely witty and funny man. As Dewey Finn, Black is a hopeless struggling musician. After getting kicked out of his music group just before the big annual Battle Of The Bands contest, which was his only chance to pay his nerdy room mate who's a substitute teacher and his C-word of a girlfriend the rent which was long overdue, he took over his roomate's job as a substitute teacher when a middle school called up looking for a temp. From here on, Jack Black plays a roll that's true to him in every way - the underdog. Black is one of those actors who everyone knows, yet you couldn't quite call him an A-list celebrity. Dewey Finn is known as a joke in the local rock scene and teaching his class of young impressive musicians how to play rock n roll is his only chance for fame and staying in his apartment. He gets so desperate and at times, hopeless that you're hoping he'll succeed. The great thing about it is, as learned in the extras, that these kids did NOT just learn to play their instruments for the movie, as other reviewers have complained. (Lighten up, by the way, it's a movie not a damn album) In fact these kids weren't even ACTORS. They were musicians and they were hired for that fact alone which I think was a great way to approach it, since the musicianship from the kids were more essential then their acting abilities. If anyone can't understand that, you just missed the point. Jack Black DOES carry the movie because it is HIS movie. He's the main outlet for jokes, which some other reviewers complained about. But you gotta understand that that's the point. Dewey is placed in the middle of a very normal surrounding. Much more normal then most movies, where things are exaggerated considerably. Nothing is exaggerated here. It's as normal as you can get, so placing someone off the wall like Dewey in the middle of that, you rely on HIM for all of the comedy. And if he can carry such a wonderful movie, I think that says alot about him. The ending is great, though I won't give it away, it teaches the point of the movie and what's most important. It drives the point home completely. Also, the band's performance during the closing credits is humorous as well. They finally found a way to keep you watching until the credits are done! The extras are great. The Toronto film festival footage was a great addition. The MTV Diary feature might single handedly prove just how talented Jack is. It starts off with him late for an audition and him going through all his daily routines in just under a minute. And the greatest moment is him talking about his diet. He's not just a one trick pony, he can perform well without a script in front of him. All of the rest of the features are equally as good, especially the "making of" featurette. I hope this gives you a desire to rent or buy School Of Rock on DVD. You won't be disappointed :)
Rating:
Summary: Best Comedy Out in 2003! And I Missed it in Theaters!
Review: This movie flat out rocks on every level. This is by far Jack Black's finest and funniest on screen performance. He is pitch perfect and contains more than enough facial expressions to make even Jim Carrey happy. All the kids acting abilities are really great as well and would have hurt the film if they weren't in it. I made the mistake of renting this for $4.00 on Tuesday night, loving it so much that I bought it at the store for $16.00 today. So my advice is save the rental cost and put it towards the purchase of the outstanding rock comedy!
Rating:
Summary: Rock on Jack!
Review: After being kicked out of his own band prior to the "Battle of the Bands", Dewey Finn's desperation reaches a fevered pitch; he has no money, no way to earn any, no way to compete with his old band and take home the prize money. His roommate's controlling girlfriend wants Dewey kicked out of the apartment. That all changes with a single phone call. Dewey pretends to be his roommate Mike (Mike White) and takes the job of substitute teacher at a private school. Dewey soon discovers that teaching is much harder than playing air guitar. The competitive kids appear restless and ill-at-ease doing nothing. Dewey has no luck recruiting for his new band. Until he discovers his class practicing classical music in the music room. An idea blooms full blown like a bad heavy metal song. The kids will be HIS backing band. An inspired collision of indie sensibilities and Hollywood, the delightful "School of Rock" finally gives the talented performer Jack Black both a role he can sink his teeth into and one where he can demonstrate the chops he's honed as a member of Tenacious D. Black looks like a demonic Joe Cocker (prior to the beard of course) or Angus Young (AC/DC) after an eating binge. Black literally lights the movie up from within due to his infectious energy and humor. The screenplay by co-star Mike White ("The Good Girl") was written specifically with Black in mind. Indie director Richard Linklater doesn't go the easy route; he makes Dewey into a likable slob who misleads, manipulates and twists everyone around so he can obtain his goal. Ultimately, Dewey is undone by his roommate's girlfriend otherwise he would have taken the charade all the way to the "Battle of the Bands". Like "The Commitments" (the film this most closely resembles), "School of Rock" is at its best in the sequences where Dewey works with the class. Joan Cusack dives right into the heart of the uptight principal Rosalie Mullins and the scenes between her and Dewey are delightfully funny and charming. The best sequence between them involves Dewey asking her out for a drink so he can get her drunk. He's hoping to talk her into letting him take the kids out on a field trip (really the audition for the "Battle of the Bands") by getting her to sing along to Stevie Nick's "Edge of Seventeen". It's a crack up to see Cusack belt out the song in the biker bar that Dewey takes her to. The kids in the movie all give great performances. They appear natural and clearly are having a ball playing their roles as well as the instruments in the movie. The extras on the disc are exceptional. They include Jack pleading with Led Zep to let the film use "Immigrant Song"; the MTV Jack Black special as well as a very funny commentary by Black and director Linklater (plus a separate audio commentary track by the kids from the band). There's also a web site archive, the trailer, a video diary about the Toronto Film Festival and other great stuff. When you watch "School of Rock" you'll want to rock on with Jack and the kids!
Rating:
Summary: School of Clichés
Review: This is usually the kind of movie I would love. It has so much going for it (Jack Black, Richard Linklater, classic rock, etc.), but I found the plot and premise to be full of clichés. In a nutshell, the film is about a cool rock 'n roll rebel who has to deal with a bunch of stiff, stuffy people (parents, teachers) and eventually prevails in the end. I just felt like I had seen it all before.
Rating:
Summary: The School Of Rock gets an A plus
Review: The School of Rock is a very funny movie. Jack Black is wonderful as Dewey Finn, a person posing as an elementary school teacher after he is kicked out of a rock band. I loved how Jack Black helps the kids in his class bring out their musical talents. He makes a class of 5th graders feel good about themselves through music. I was impressed by how talented the kids in the movie are especially the guitar player Zach. Joan Cusack is perfectly cast as the strict principal. One of my favorite scenes is when she cuts loose and starts singing in the restaurant. This movie has great music too. I loved all songs performed by the band. I also liked the classic rock songs by Led Zeppelin and Cream. There is a very good music video at the end of the movie too. Another fun extra feature is Dewey Finn blackboard lesson on the history of rock music. The School Of Rock is a DVD the whole family can enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: rockin
Review: after seeing this film, all you'll want to do is rock!
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious
Review: About a year ago I heard that a movie was coming out which a. featured a large number of child actors, b. was set in a posh prep school and c. was about a stand-in teacher who enters a band competition with his class. At first I thought "What a stupid idea for a film.". But when I found out that Jack Black and Linklater were behind it, I changed my opinion. I was sure that it would be a hit. The film is a bit corny in parts and the ending, at "Battle of the Bands", a little too "feel good", but overall Jack Black is incredible. The "Rock and Roll" in-jokes are perfectly delivered.
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