Movie Review: “School of Rock” doesn’t quite rock the house
Grade: B
When faced with the prospect of seeing either “Scary Movie 3” or another Cuba Gooding Jr. flick, I managed to convince Jared that we should step back a week or two and review the new Jack Black movie “School of Rock.”
Maybe it was just because Jack is holding a vintage Gibson SG guitar on the poster, just like the one Pete Townsend played during The Who’s peak years in the early 1970s. Actually, it was more because I felt quite confident that “Scary Movie 3” was going to suck.
So far, the reviews have reassured me that our choice was wise.
“School of Rock,” wasn’t the funniest comedy of all time, but it was a fun ride. Jack plays an aspiring rock guitarist whose eccentric stage antics get him kicked out of his band shortly before they enter a massive battle of the bands competition. Determined to continue rocking and win the $20K cash prize that will keep a roof over his head, he poses as a substitute teacher at a local private school and enlists the musical chops of his highly talented students to form a new group.
From there the story is pretty predictable, but Jack’s (surprisingly clean) jokes and the talents of the kids manage to keep you interested for the duration. The biggest thing that kept me interested was waiting to actually seeing the kid band play.
“School of Rock’s” strengths lie in its details. Anyone with any band experience at all should relate to Jack’s character, essentially a rock ‘n’ roll purist that can’t come to grips with the fact that he’ll never play for the stadium crowds. His heart gives his character a lot of warmth, and it’s fun watching him interact with the kids, who manage to carry their share of the entertainment weight as well.
The coolest thing about “School of Rock,” other than the SG, is one song on the soundtrack. The whole soundtrack is great, but the fact that they included “Roadrunner” by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers is a brand of instant credibility to any rock aficionado. Richman is often referred to as the Godfather of Punk, the bridge between the Velvet Underground and the Ramones, and is one of the most curious and amiable characters the music world has ever produced. If you haven’t heard him, and most haven’t, go check him out.
Jack has come quite a way in the last few years. Only film diehards will remember one of his earliest roles, as the head-shaved marine that is among the first casualties in the alien invasion of “Mars Attacks.” “School of Rock” is a harmless family-friendly vehicle to help his career continue to evolve.
Joshua Terry is a graduate student in the American studies program. Comments can be received at jterry@english.usu.edu.