Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
This film has a shot at being the first Richard Linklater film to get really widespread distribution since DAZED & CONFUSED or BEFORE SUNRISE. I love Linklater’s films, but he’s drifted away from commercial filmmaking, seemingly by choice. When I heard he was making a broad Jack Black comedy, it seemed odd to me. I certainly hope it’s good... I’d like to see Linklater buy himself some commercial clout so he can go back to indulging his own personal tastes soon...
Harry,
Last night in the Big Apple, Paramount held a preview for the newest Jack Black, Richard Linklater-directed film, "School of Rock."
The film is about Dewey Finn (Black), a hardcore rocker who likes to play long guitar solos and stage dive when doing gigs with his garage band. When the band-which he formed- votes him out, he has nowhere to go. It doesn't help that his roomie Ned (Mike White from "Chuck and Buck", also the screenwriter) is pressuring Dewey to give up music, and get a real job like his, substitute teaching. Dewey does just this when he impersonates Ned and becomes a long-term sub at a prestigious prep school headed by Principal Mullins (Joan Cusack).
Dewey slacks off at first, until he realizes that his students possess incredible musical talents. He then decides to use them as his new band and teaches them all about rock, all leading up to a Battle of the Bands concert.
Enough Synopsis.
Overall, this movie worked. Oddly enough, this movie (which would probably be rated PG-13 based on the unfinished print I saw) succeeds in making Black an unlikely lead in family fare. There is little to no swearing, no sex, and no toilet humor, yet there are still great Jack Black moments.
Normally, I like Jack Black as a supporting character, but was nervous when I found out he would be the lead and mainly supported by undiscovered child actors. But he does the job. He is still a slob, but since he is essentially the biggest child actor out there, he interacts great with the kids. And he also gets to show off his musical skills outside of Tenacious D.
And I should say that I was impressed that the film didn't cheat with the music. It was right on, and there was never a need to point out every little musical easter egg or nod.
The actual child actors of Dewey's class are great. Sure, we are given a bunch of kids to memorize and only a couple are actually fleshed out. The rest are just given little ticks and eccentricities (the effeminate one, the chubby one, etc.) But they all seem to fit in okay.
The adult supporting characters are necessary but forgettable. Including Cusack and White, Sarah Silverman has a bit part and there are also a bunch of angry parent types. There main role is to show how the kids are fresh and have potential whereas they are stuffy and sold out long ago.
The print I saw was mostly finished, although there were a few dragging moments that could be cut. Also, moviegoers should leave their disbelief at the door. In real life, a guy posing as a teacher and kidnapping children to a battle of the bands concert would be locked up instead of applauded, but aren't we all a little sick of those people in the theater that need to point this out? Jeez, it takes place in an imaginary world, let's just enjoy the ride.
So, I will see this flick again when it actually comes out.
And you can call me Spin-Off boy.
Thanks, man.
"Moriarty" out.
