The Bottom Line
Pros
- Jack Black is charismatic in the leading role
- Talented child actor-musicians
- Movie is entertaining from start to finish
Cons
- Not for people who don’t like rock music or Jack Black
- Not for people who don’t enjoy fable-like stories
- Movie would have been better if it had been several minutes shorter
Description
- DVD containing comedy movie "School of Rock" (2003)
- Film stars Jack Black
- DVD provides feature-length audio commentary by Jack Black and director Richard Linklater
- DVD provides feature-length audio commentary by movie’s child actors
- DVD supplies a making-of featurette (25 min.)
- DVD includes several other extras, including "Jack Black's Pitch to Led Zeppelin"
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- Excellent picture and sound quality
- Feature run time: 1 hour 49 minutes
- DVD release date: March 2, 2004
Guide Review - "School of Rock" DVD Review
Jack Black stars in this rock 'n' roll comedy which I predict will appeal to viewers over a wide age range. I thought that Black was charismatic in his portrayal of down-on-his-luck rocker Dewey Finn, who fakes his way into substitute teaching fifth-graders. He abandons the regular curriculum and teaches nothing but rock 'n' roll. Musically inclined students play instruments and sing, while others do lighting, costumes, etc. But Dewey's day of reckoning looms, and it all comes down to a Battle of the Bands. The story is slight, fablistic, and stretches credibility, but it successfully functions as a structure upon which to hang entertaining performances, musical numbers, and Jack Black's hilarious antics.
The DVD provides good extras, including two feature-length audio commentary tracks—one by actor Jack Black and director Richard Linklater and the other by the child actors who appear in the movie.
I recommend this film for people who enjoy rock music and like to laugh.
