School of Rock was all promotion and no substance.
The funny parts you have probably already seen for free in themassive promotional campaign and the rest of the movie is mostly acheesy waste of time.
Jack Black plays Dewey, a spastic middle-aged bum with rock-stardreams who was recently kicked out of his band.
Mike White plays Ned Sneebly, his pushover friend who has beenletting Dewey stay in his apartment indefinitely.
Ned, who has given up his rock and roll garage band days tobecome a substitute teacher, is pushed around by his "w"itchygirlfriend (Sarah Silverman) who comically insists that Ned standup for himself and demand rent from Dewey. Faced with the necessityto get some cash quickly, Dewey pretends he is Ned when an offer tosubstitute for a prestigious elementary prep school comesalong.
Dewey becomes the teacher for a class of over-achieving, uptightand often pretentious pipsqueaks, but soon decides to abandon allcurriculum, grades, stars or demerits to teach the kids the basicsof rock music after discovering they have musical talent.
Also wanting to win the local battle of the bands competition,that awards $20,000, Dewy tells the students they are competing isa class project against other schools.
All of this must be kept secret from the overbearing teachersand principal, played by Joan Cusack.
The kids are divided up into different positions in the banddepending on talent -- one orchestrates the laser show, a few aresecurity, a few are groupies, there are backup singers, a leadguitarist, bassist, and Black plays lead singer.
Most comical are the class's queen overachiever, Summer, whorefuses to be a groupie after looking up what groupies do on theinternet.
Dewey must befriend the uptight and introverted school principalby getting her drunk in order to let the kids go on a "field trip"to the battle of the bands.
Despite the fact that the parents inevitably find out Dewy isnot Ned Sneebly at all, you can guess that the kids provethemselves and all Dewey has taught them by rocking out andloosening up -- all as cliche as you would imagine.
The best part of the film is Dewey's posturings on the originsand purpose of rock and roll. He names off bands that played morethan thirty years before these kids were born.
Black is best when he reminded me of his part in High Fidelityas the record-store permanent spouting out music opinions.
However, Black is best in minor or supporting roles because hishumor comes from him being unexpected.
Of the entire hour and 48 minutes of the movie, I was sick ofseeing him after about 45 minutes. School of Rock should have beena skit, or at least a one-hour TV movie -- I would wait until itplays on cable to see this one if I were you.
