By: debbie lynn elias
Dewey Finn is having a bad day. Okay, make it a bad life. Believing himself to be an already great rock ‘n roller, Dewey aspires to become a rock legend. Big problem though – he’s slovenly, lazy, egomaniacal (with no grounds to be) and has really ticked off the members of his band, so much so that they fire him. Go figure! Drowning in debt and overcome with depression, Dewey freeloads off his childhood friend, Ned Sneebly. He lives rent-free in Ned’s apartment. He eats Ned’s food. He drink’s Ned’s beer (perish the thought!). And he p***s off Ned’s girlfriend Patty. Bad move. Patty puts her foot down with Ned, causing tension between the boys and Dewey is placed in a unique situation – with no real skills (but for some great air guitar) he must now go out into the “real world” and make a living. AAGGHH! Luckily Ned is a substitute teacher. Thankfully, Dewey intercepts a phone call summoning Ned to class. Surprisingly, Ned never gets the message. In a flash of brilliance, Dewey decides to become Ned and shows up on the doorstep of Horace Green Elementary School, a very uptight, hoity-toity, private institution of academics, ready to mold the young minds of his charges. NOT!
Despite his assurances to Principal Mullins to the contrary, it’s clear from day one that Dewey/Ned is unsuited to teaching. He puts his feet up on the desk. He tells the kids to shut up so he can take a nap. He browbeats the kids into giving him a sandwich. He gives the the class a full day of recess. As for lesson plans – what’s a lesson plan – that is until he discovers these kids have some real musical talent which gives “Mr. Sneebly” another flash of brilliance. Come on kids! Let’s put on a show, er, form a band! (Where are Mickey and Judy when you need them.) Still a legend in his own mind, Dewey believes that under his guidance, the class can lead him to rock ‘n roll stardom as they compete in the Battle of Bands. And with that stardom, of course, comes a big fat check. Adding some humorous intrigue to his plan is the need to keep everything on the QT so that the staff, Principal Mullins and the parents know nothing of the plan.
With “School of Rock” Jack Black has finally found the perfect vehicle for his own brand of warped and twisted comedy and is so effective as Dewey, it’s difficult to tell where Jack Black ends and Dewey Finn begins. With tornado-like force, he sweeps in with impeccable comic delivery and a physicality reminiscent of the late John Belushi Quite simply, his performance is so maniacally magical and energetic it would be a standing room only sell-out if he were on stage.
One of my favorites, Joan Cusack, turns in another winning performance here as Principal Mullins. Put-upon, just this side of being a complete tight-ass, Cusack humanizes the concept of “principal” and never moreso than when letting her hair down, having a few beers with Dewey and doing a rather interesting, intoxicated interpretation of a Stevie Nicks number. Screenwriter Mike White does double duty in the nominal, but plot defining role, as Mr. Sneebly.
The ensemble cast of kids are an added attraction. Compliments of Mike White’s talented scripting, we see the group take on its own identity as the entourage of a rock superstar, with some being talented musicians and singers, some super-talented, some serving as roadies, some acting as managers and some handling PR, costumes and even security. Talk about a life lesson plan! A harmonious blend of talent, while no one actor stands out, they are all integral parts of the musical canvas being painted by Dewey. Importantly, you can feel the fun they are having doing this film and working with Jack Black.
Thanks to Mike White’s clever and witty script, Black is no longer relegated to being a goofy sidekick and successfully segues to center stage focusing in on his innate sense of musical mania. White, who has already brought us such gems as “The Good Girl” and “Orange County”, while not bringing any groundbreaking concept to the screen with “School of Rock”, does put a fresh new spin on the well worn Rockyesque format of underdog (or buffoon) becoming hero and does so with winning results.
Director Richard Linklater, probably best known for his Indie work on “Dazed and Confused”, moves the story along with the timing of a fast-paced metronome, blending a few emotional moments (yes, hard to believe, but Jack Black is capable of emotion) with some hard rocking musical sequences that just knock your socks off. And although there are a few flat notes, Linklater pulls it all together by showcasing Black and giving him great latitude for expression and unbridled creativity for his own brand of musical cool that carries throughout the film.
Come on people! Let’s rock ‘n roll!
Dewey Finn: Jack Black
Principal Mullins: Joan Cusack
Ned Sneebly: Mike White
Patty: Sarah Silverman
Directed by Richard Linklater. Written by Mike White. Rated PG-13. (108 min)
