School of Rock (2003)
Film:
DVD:

Written by Mike White
Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Joey Gaydos Jr., Miranda Cosgrove

Features:

• Running audio commentary by actor Black and director Linklater
  
• Running audio commentary by the kids
  
• "Lessons Learned" -- making of featurette
  
• Jack Black's pitch to Led Zeppelin
  
• Music video
  
• Jack Black's MTV Diary
  
• Kids' video diary from the Toronto Film Festival
  
• Trailers
  
• Dewey Finn's History of Rock (DVD-ROM)
  

Released by Paramount
Rating: PG-13
Region: 1
Anamorphic: Yes.

My Advice: At least rent it.

Dewey Finn (Black) is a perfectly lovable loser. Perennially jobless, unless you count his band No Vacancy (which, whoops--he just got kicked out of, never mind), he's been mooching off his buddy and roommate Ned (White) since time immemorial. However, Ned's new girlfriend, Patty (Sarah Silverman), has had enough of Dewey and wants him gone. If Dewey doesn't fork over what he owes Ned, Patty decides for Ned, then he's out. Desperate, Dewey intercepts a call from Principal Mullins (Cusack), who's in charge of a private school and in equally desperate need of a substitute teacher on short notice. Dewey poses as Ned, goes to the school and quickly learns that his preppie little charges all have some degree of musical talent. Then his eyebrows start working up and down...

The film is not rocket science, it's just fun as hell. Sure you can see the curves coming from a mile off, but the people making the film never wanted you to guess about what was happening, they just wanted you to enjoy the ride. And that's easy to do. Black attacks the role of Dewey like it was written for him (funny, that) and manages to stay true to his "redonkulous" roots while still never leaping off the screen. Singing, scatting, playing guitar and, more than anything else, being passionate about music, he's a loser that you just can't help but like.

Also in fine form are the kids in his class. Granted, only those in the band (and the band's manager, played by Cosgrove) get to really show off a lot on camera, but they're all impressive younguns. Points to the filmmakers for seeking out kids who can actually play their instruments and act at the same time. That's the other thing about the movie that works well--people love sharing music with other people. And the only thing better than that is introducing youngsters to stuff they've never heard and can go on to appreciate. So everybody can watch this and nod their heads and share Dewey's passion. Good stuff.

It's a fairly stacked edition--the commentary with Black and Linklater is quite amusing. In fact, if Black was involved with the extra, it's pretty much a blanket statement: it will be worthwhile. The commentary here is an interesting balance of Black riffing, the two of them playing off each other, and info about behind the scenes stuff on the film. The second commentary is another matter: while it's very cool that they got every kid member of the band (except for one of the backup singers who was apparently filming another movie at the time and couldn't make it--nice work if you can get it) to pitch in, it's not anything anyone in their right mind would want to listen to. There's only so much one can take when it's all talking about how cool individuals are as they appear on screen, in-jokes and humor that only registers with kids at that age.

The making-of featurette avoids the normal pitfalls of such a bit in that it's not all smoke-blowing. Sure, there's some praise thrown around, but for the most part you can watch it without bleeding from the eyes. The music video is cute in a cheeseball kind of way, as it features Black as Dewey getting the members of the band together and then winding up on stage performing. Black's hair in this is funnier than anything else. The kids' video diary is the same thing but, natch, focusing on the kids at their first film festival appearance. They're cute and psyched but otherwise, it's more posterity stuff.

The film is a must-see for anybody who loves rock or anybody who's a teacher. The disc is fairly stacked for a single disc, so fans of Black will want to own. But if nothing else, rent the sucker before you buy if you have any doubts. It's worth it.