AGW Entertainment reporter Lynn B. saw a new comedy film

SCHOOL OF ROCK!

Paramount Pictures

If you are used to seeing rocker/comic actor Jack Black in gross-out, side-kick film roles or as a miscast romantic lead in Shallow Hal, check him out in School of Rock! It's a whole new take on the actor.

Wild-boy lead guitarist Dewey Finn (Jack Black) is anti-establishment to the hilt, irreverent to the max, and he worships the power of rock and roll. He loves doing stage-dives and 20-minute solos and is determined to lead his rock group to victory at the local Battle of the Bands, but his band mates fire him instead, replacing him with a hotter-looking but totally soul-less lead singer.

Down-and-out and penniless, Dewey is given notice to raise some rent cash or get out by his roomie, substitute teacher and former rocker Ned (Mike White). Dewey picks up a phone call intended for Ned and impulsively accepts a job as a substitute teacher at the prestigious Horace Green Elementary School, posing as Ned. But while Dewey might not have a clue how to teach, he does know how to inspire confidence in his young fifth graders. And when he accidentally overhears them performing in an orchestra class, he decides to mold these young musical prodigies into a high-voltage rock band that can win the Battle of the Bands! All he has to do is fake teaching "real" subjects and avoid the prying eyes of parents and the uptight school principal (Joan Cusack).

School of Rock…rocks!! This movie is hilarious and heartwarming and has some great and well-choreographed rock tunes in it as well. As a rule, Jack Black kinda grosses me out since he usually plays a wasted dude with no goals who prods some leading man into doing something that will…move the plot in the film. This time Black is a loser…who turns into a leading man with some purpose, goals and leadership! And, Black is great with the kids in the film. He's the new Eddie Murphy. Kids love him, and, eventually, parents love him too.

The plot of the film is very predictable but who cares? We really root for Jack to inspire his students to rock with their whole souls, come out of their uptight shells and Live, Live, Live! The kid actors are real musicians who can also act and Joan Cusack is her usual riot as an uptight school official who is really seething underneath… a would-be Classic Rocker who wants to dance on tables (we could have used seeing her do this and not just hearing about it). Mike White (who is a screenwriter with Orange County and Jennifer Aniston's The Good Girl to his credit) is great as an ex-rocker trying to go "straight" while his soul is still into rock!

School of Rock is great for you, your pals, your dates and the whole family. This one is a totally entertaining, uplifting moviegoing experience. Check it out!

Rated: PG-13 (don't know why this movie didn't get a PG. It's great for the whole family)

Official website