School Of Rock
Published September 10, 2003
What did Alissa and I see last night that you didn't? That's right, Jack Black's new movie, School Of Rock, coming out in October. Alissa got tickets to a screening from a coworker and we jumped on the chance. I love Jack Black, and while I can't say everything of his has been outstanding (Saving Silverman, as I often say, is the worst movie I've ever seen,) he has a good track record for being entertaining, and in a "rock" context, he is usually hilarious. He didn't disappoint in the slightest.
Now, let me make something clear: this movie is one cliche' after another for nearly two hours. There isn't one new idea in the film and nothing will come as even the most remotely surprising. It's basically simple and stupid, and you know from the moment the film starts what's going to happen. And it just doesn't matter. The whole point of this movie is simply to give Jack Black an excuse to be Jack Black on-screen for two hours. You get Jack Black rockin' out, you get Jack Black freakin' out, you get Jack Black being snotty and rude - you get it all: the whole Jack Black package that fans know and love. This works because Jack Black is most suited to being himself in movies, and when you pair that with his great love, rock music, the results should be great. Essentially, this is Jack Black as High Fidelity's Barry gone solo - if you enjoyed his turn as Barry in that movie, you'll love him here.
What's the story? Pretty basic: Black, as guitarist Dewey Finn, loses his spot in his band, can't pay rent to his substitute-teacher best friend Ned (played by writer Mike White, who also gave us Chuck & Buck, Orange County, and The Good Girl,) and when he accidently answers a call from a school looking for his friend Ned, he takes the job and assumes his identity without Ned knowing it. Throw into the mix Ned's nosey, overpowering girlfriend, a class of musically talented kids, and an uptight school Dean (played by Joan Cusack) and you can just about write the screenplay yourself. The beginning is a bit rough, as the setup is a bit tired and overly predictible with not enough humor to keep it moving, but once Dewey enters the school the pace picks up immediately.
The refreshing part about all this is that several of these kids could sing and play their instruments quite well, and it's obvious in many scenes that what we're hearing is the real kids' talents at work. Dewey, as Ned, gives the kids a thorough history of rock, focusing on, in his eyes, "real" rock and not just what's popular today, giving due to The Who, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Rush, among others (but sadly mispronouncing Rush drummer Neil Peart's name - it rhymes with "ear," not "hurt" Jack. You, of all people, should know that!) Along the way, viewers are treated to a goodly number of very Tenacious D styled Black-penned songs that will elicit many laughs for not only the sheer over-the-top cheesiness of the lyrics but his very enthusiasm in rendering such authentic rock anthems.
- School Of Rock
- Published: September 10, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Comedy
- Writer: Tom Johnson
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This musician will second that emotion, but the underlying sexism in the film really got under my skin. Granted, SOR wasn't meant to be a message film, but it annoyed me that the girls could only be backup singers or groupies, save one who got to play bass but was not given the opportunity the boy musicians enjoyed. (Exception: The girl featured as the band's manager was pretty spunky, but she didn't get to rock.) Yeah, yeah, rock is pretty sexist, but it just made me sad that the "boys rule" ethos was so blithely passed on to yet another generation.
That said, a message did come from the film. The notion that no matter what, we should do whatever it takes, whatever the cost, to express ourselves as we see fit (so long as we widen our eyes so that we look like we're insane while doing it) is an important thing to communicate in a John Ashcroft America.
I enjoy Jack Black, so overall the film was enjoyable to me and offered some really funny moments -- and the rawk was great, but the sum of its parts ended up totalling less than I expected.
Natalie, I agree. I am not one who's really sensetive to picking up underlined messages like sexism or even racism. It usually doesn't daze me. Probably because I"m a male and of lighter skin tone. I however did not appreciate the groupie thing, and was glad to see the one girl step up and not be happy w/ that. I was also glad to see a female thumpin the bass pretty hard!
For "backup singers," the girls got a pretty good amount of screen time. Maybe they could have had a girl play guitar - but maybe they couldn't find any that played well enough (remember, the kids all played their own instruments in the film - they're not being overdubbed by "real" musicians.) The stories around the kids wouldn't have been affected whether it was a boy or girl who played the part. And the girl bassist got treated like most bassists do, sad as it may be: ignored.
This "'boys rule ethos'" you speak of died a long time ago. There are countless bands with female members these days (Kittie springs immediately to mind.) Maybe in the 70s and 80s that would be true, but not anymore.
It has receded in the past 20-30 years, but dead? Not quite yet.
You're right about bassists generally being ignored, though.
maybe what I caught wasn't so much a sexist air, but more of a discust that they would tell young girls to be "groupies". The term "groupie" in my mind is nothing but negative.
Well.. I hate to say it, but i loved the movie, and I really dont think that any of the actors were thinking "Why am I making this movie?" Thats all I have to say.. Except one more thing.. I have never.... ever... ever heard Neil Peart's name pronounced rhyming with "ear" it's ALWAYS rhymed with "hurt"... Not even Rush themselves pronounce it rhyming with "ear".. I would know.. i do have all of their DVDs.. including Rush in Rio. And i've been playing drums my whole life.. and Neil is one of my idols. So yeah.. i do study him..
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I'll give you props for this review even if no one else will!
I loved this movie because, as a musician, it somehow captured all the passion and feelings I once had when I started my band. You know...those feelings you had before you became jaded. Jack Black and the kids somehow expressed everything I used to feel about playing in a rock and roll band, and brought it out in me again. Amazing. I can't wait to rock out again!