The video / DVD of the week, this week, is Richard Linklater’s inspired rock ‘n’ roll comedy, School of Rock. Starring Jack Black in a break-out performance — as a masquerading substitute teacher who is a manic devotee of ’70s musical bombast, including Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and AC/DC — this DVD is exuberant, raucous and thoroughly endearing fun.
As he did with Dazed and Confused and Before Sunrise, Linklater provides the viewer with subtext and sobering reality. In the case of Black’s Dewey Finn, he shows us a man who hasn’t realized his dreams; although Dewey won’t be famous, he does finally find his niche: as a nurturer and promoter of other people’s talent.
Also new on video early in March: Looney Tunes: Back in Action, a not always successful live-action-meets-animation kid flick; Good Boy!, a simple and intermittently satisfying tale of a boy who wants to keep his dog; and two dreadful, absolutely forgettable films, Cold Creek Manor and Duplex.
School of Rock was our Friday night entertainment, and it comes highly recommended. As someone who lived by his vinyl collection as a kid, I can vouch for the authentic good cheer and love of ALL THINGS RAWK! Linklater is one of America’s finest directors, and with writer Mike White and Jack Black (who is in almost every frame of this movie) you have a very durable piece of entertainment. Rent it, buy it today!