Jack Black has disappointed me in the past. It's that simple-any man who can be so hilarious with Kyle Glass in that rocking duo known as Tenacious D has no excuse for the absolute disgraces that were \Orange County"" and ""Shallow Hal."" His previous missteps were not so disappointing because of what they were, but because of what they could have been.
""School of Rock,"" hitting wide release this upcoming weekend, is that comedy. In every way, shape and form, ""Rock"" exhibits the sensibilities of Jack Black.
Those looking for the influences of director Richard Linklater (""Dazed and Confused"") and writer/co-star Mike White (""The Good Girl"") will be disappointed. This is Black's film, playing out just as it should.
The basic premise is that failed rocker Dewey Finn (Black) needs to make some money before his roommate and friend Ned Schneebly (White) kicks him out to please his overbearing girlfriend (the under-utilized Sarah Silverman). He answers a call for Ned from somebody looking for a substitute teacher. He takes the job and soon realizes that several of the kids in the prep-elementary school are musical prodigies. Class quickly becomes training for the Battle of the Bands, with Finn teaching the kids rock theory and appreciation, as well as the importance of ""sticking it to the man.""
Despite featuring a cast filled with elementary-school children, ""Rock"" never feels too cutesy or coy. Instead, I was astounded at how well it toed the line between annoyingly over-the-top and nauseatingly warm-and-fuzzy. A physical comedian trying to appeal to a large crowd always faces that dilemma. Go too far with the ham-fisted humor and you create something ridiculous like ""Little Nicky."" Go too far with the sweet, heart-warming story and you produce ""Liar Liar.""
Surprisingly, the children in ""Rock"" are naturals for the parts. That makes sense, considering Linklater and Black rounded them up for their musical skills first. Children in any film are usually cheap ploys for laughs or emotional attachment, but ""Rock"" stays honest and treats them as real actors.
It has always been obvious that Jack Black had the skill to pull off a good comedy. I just wasn't sure he would ever pick the right project with the right character. His spasming, riffing, hard-rocking Dewey Finn in ""Rock"" is proof that Black can honestly be funny and endearing.
