Review: School of Rock

Directed by: Richard Linklater

Written by: Mike White

Starring: Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Sarah Silverman, Miranda Cosgrove

Rating: [4/5]

Without a doubt, education remains paramount to the maintenance of a healthy and functioning society, which makes it incredibly important to get it right thus bringing in the opinions of everyone on what works best. This leads to parents sending their kids to the best schools known for their rigidity and rigor in order to get the best version of it even if they have to pay. School of Rock presents a radical look at loosening the strictness of a particular school, which makes for such a fun ride. 

Having no money to pay rent and desperate for some money, struggling musician Dewey (Jack Black) impersonates his roommate when offered an opportunity to long-term substitute at a prestigious private school. While there he sees the opportunity to teach these kids about music even if his original intentions center on a much more selfishly personal reason. 

Jack Black has built quite the persona for himself and he carries it in each film he does to such a positive effect. For all of his roles, his portrayal of Dewey Finn gives off this aura as his ultimate role, especially in the way he elevates this story and helps deliver the overall message of the movie. He represents such a fun-loving guy that it helps overlook his obscene selfishness where he would resort to using kids to advance his musical career. It represents the power of Jack Black, which has allowed this to become his defining role in a career of delivering tremendous comedic performances. 

When Dewey steps in to substitute teach, he chooses not to teach anything on the curriculum and opts to make it an all-day music class. This certainly does not reflect the music class the students took on previously where they would play classic instruments instead of rocking out with an electric guitar and making more pulsating music. Dewey represents everything the parents of these kids do not want them to become but as with all things in life, balance needs to exist, which Dewey explains in the movie. These kids should have fun and not have their academics be so hyper-focused to the point where they don’t enjoy their childhood. 

It must be said, however, that the circumstances of this feature are fairly ridiculous to the point where a man could pass off being someone else and working with these students. If this occurred with anyone other than Dewey Finn the school would very deservedly have a major lawsuit at hand for gross negligence in not confirming the person they brought in actually matched the identity of who they have vetted through their screening progress. Try not to think too much about that because School of Rock lives in this fantasy world where we can just enjoy the child-like fun this feature creates. 

As Dewey forms this band with the kids each of them receives the opportunity to contribute thus making this a large project filled with collaboration. Yes, you had those who had musical talent and played, but also others served as security, took care of the equipment, and then you have Summer portrayed by Miranda Cosgrove. Very much carrying the same vibes of the type of character she portrayed in Drake & Josh, Cosgrove once again nails playing this conniving and smart young girl who gets what she wants and knows how to obtain. Summer finds ways to get elevated all the way up to band manager. The dynamic she builds with Dewey becomes adversarial at times but certainly turns into respect in how the film continues and then concludes. 

Of all directors I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing their work, no one takes me aback with the wide breadth of stories they take on than Richard Linklater. The range of doing something as emotionally fulfilling as Boyhood, the Before trilogy, and then a complete stoner comedy like Dazed and Confused to something like School of Rock boggles my mind. Different tones, subject matter, and aspirations but he makes them all work so far because he ultimately has an interest in the story at the center and elevates them to their absolute best just as he does with this feature. Without him and Jack Black, this feature would not be nearly as great but thankfully we get this fantastic collaboration between the two makes for something quite special. 

Bringing in bundles of fun and even with a wholly unbelievable story at the center, School of Rock allows us to ignore it all and focus on the fun-loving and heartwarming message at the center. You have a wonderful group of students that demonstrate they can have fun while attending school, which serves as a good reminder that these kids should enjoy their academics as well as exist as sponges for knowledge. These kids deserve a balance, which Dewey Finn came in and provided through his unorthodox approach of teaching with absolutely no background in the profession.