Reviews Film / School Of Rock

Rock don't gotta make sense

School of Rock demonstrates how the proper person in a role can carry an entire film — quite simply, without Jack Black leading this picture, it's dubious that the movie would be as entertaining as it is.

The premise of the film is questionable enough; a washed-up musician cons his way into being the substitute teacher for a class of fifth-graders, then secretly turns them into a rock band capable of rivaling adult musicians with more talent and experience. It almost sounds like an Affectionate Parody of "inspirational teacher" movies like Mr. Holland's Opus, except it's not silly enough to be a parody. And don't think too hard about how Dewey manages to get away with his scheme, because by all realistic accounts it shouldn't work at all.

No, what turns School of Rock from an eye-rolling mess into a fun family comedy is Jack Black — it's not an understatement to say that the entire movie is carried by his infectious energy and enthusiasm, from the first frame to the very end credits. Dewey's passion for rock 'n roll comes from the innermost core of Black's heart, and that excitement permeates the entire movie, drives every scene, and infuses every moment with a sense of authenticity that can't be faked. You end up mesmerized by the film because you're caught up in Black's energy and want to see where the story goes, even as a voice in the back of your head realizes "that could never work in real life"... but you're so caught up in the energy that it doesn't matter.

From a real-world point of view, School of Rock doesn't make sense, but that's irrelevant — the movie is worth watching just for an opportunity to have Jack Black melt your face off with his searing intense love of rock 'n roll.