School of Rock

Director: Richard Linklater Richard Linklater

Overview

The world's least-employable heavy metal guitarist is entrusted with the minds of upstate New York's best and brightest in this fish-out-of-water comedy. Jack Black plays Dewey Finn, axe-bearer for a fitfully successful bar band determined to win a regional battle-of-the-bands competition. There's only one thing standing in their way: the self-indulgent solos and crowd-diving antics of their "embarrassing" lead guitarist. When his band votes him out in favor of a would-be rock god, Dewey has to make the rent somehow, and after intercepting a call for his substitute-teacher roomie Ned (Mike White), the pot-bellied slacker finds himself in front of a class of elite elementary school students. At a loss for a lesson plan, Dewey takes offense at the pre-teen prodigies' staid musical regimen and makes it his goal to preach them the gospel of The Who, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC -- with the ulterior motive of getting them to compete against his former band for a cash prize. But no matter how willing his pupils, Dewey runs up against the consternation of the school's stern headmistress Principal Mullins (Joan Cusack), the battle-of-the-bands' promoter (Frank Whaley), and not least, his identity-deprived roomie Ned.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/24/2017
UPC:	0032429258014
Original Release:	2003
Source:	PARAMOUNT
Language:	English

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jack Black	Dewey Finn
Mike White	Ned Schneebly
Joan Cusack	Rosalie Mullins
Sarah Silverman	Patty Di Marco
Joey Gaydos Jr.	Zack
Miranda Cosgrove	Summer Hathaway
Kevin Clark	Freddy
Robert Tsai	Lawrence
Maryam Hassan	Tomika
Rebecca Brown	Katie
Caitlin Hale	Marta
Brian Falduto	Billy
Zachary Infante	Gordon
James Hosey	Marco
Aleisha Allen	Alicia
Angelo Massagli	Frankie
Cole Hawkins	Leonard
Veronica Afflerbach	Eleni
Jordan-Claire Green	Michelle
Adam Pascal	Theo
Lucas Papelias	Neil
Chris Stack	Doug
Lucas Babin	Spider
Jaclyn Neidenthal	Emily
Suzzanne Douglas	Tomika's Mother
Eron Otcasek	Musician
Carlos Velazquez	Musician
Kimberly Grigsby	Mrs. Sheinkopf
Lee Wilkof	Mr. Green
Kate McGregor-Stewart	Mrs. Lemmons
Wally Dunn	Gym Teacher
Tim Hopper	Zack's Father
Michael Dominguez-Rudolph	Art Student
Crash Cortez	Max
Nicky Katt	Razor
John E. Highsmith	Tony
Heather Goldenhersh	Sheila
Timothy Levitch	Waiter
Scott Graham	Punk Rock Guy
Sharon Washington	Alicia's Mother
Kim Brockington	Leonard's Mother
Marty Murphy	Concerned Father
Kathleen McNenny	Freddy's Mother
Joanna P. Adler	Summer's Mother
Robert Lin	Lawrence's Father
Barry Shurchin	Cop
MacIntyre Dixon	Bus Driver
Amy Sedaris	Mrs. Haynish
Mary Fortune	Teacher's Assistant
Mandy Siegfried	Female Employee
Elisa Pugliese	Concert Goer
Carlos J. Da Silva	Security Guard
Ian O'Malley	Radio Exec
Chris Line	Radio DJ
Kyle Meaney	Toby
Craig Wedren	Composer,Actor
Rogier Stoffers	Actor
Richard Linklater	Actor
Scott Aversano	Actor
Steve Nicolaides	Actor
Scott Rudin	Actor
Ryan Collison	Actor
Tom Fleischman	Actor
Ilene Starger	Actor

Technical Credits

Mike White

Scott Aversano

Scott Rudin

Jack Black

Sarah Silverman

Joan Cusack

Bruce Norris

Lee Wilkof

Richard Linklater	Director
Mike White	Screenwriter
Scott Aversano	Executive Producer,Producer,Screenwriter
Steve Nicolaides	Executive Producer,Producer
Scott Rudin	Producer,Director,Screenwriter
Don J. Hewitt	Stunts,Stunts
John Sifanich	Special Effects
Ilene Starger	Casting
Ryan Collison	Sound Effects
Tom Fleischman	Sound Effects
Jack Black	Screenwriter
Sarah Silverman	Screenwriter
Joan Cusack	Screenwriter
Bruce Norris	Screenwriter
Lee Wilkof	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

School of Rock is a hilarious combination of several standard-formula plot elements that wouldn't have added up to much were it not for the uniquely quirky performance of Jack Black, the endearing children in his "rock" class, the direction of Richard Linklater, and the well-written script by Mike White. That such tired plot lines as a teacher inspiring his students through an "experimental" teaching style (learning his own valuable lessons along the way, of course) and a band preparing for an inevitable Battle of the Bands finale actually come across as refreshing and fun is a testament to the quality of the film's execution. The children are genuine and likable and Jack Black has a natural rapport with them -- who ever thought that Black would prove such an inspirational and understanding mentor? Yes, the story is preposterous, but the message of bringing out the best in kids through positive reinforcement -- and the "power of rock" -- is real and heartfelt. Black's comedic antics are hilarious -- at once reined in by Linklater and let free by the essential spotlight that the film offers him. The School of Rock is Black's first moment to shine and truly take center stage in a film, and he does it with ease. The witty script by Mike White is great at relating the joys and importance of rock music and at avoiding stereotypes beyond most characters' first introductions (though the Liza Minnelli-loving effeminate student [Brian Falduto] and the evil-girlfriend [Sarah Silverman] are noticably one-dimentional in comparison the the others). In particular, Joan Cusack's role as the strict and uptight principal is refreshing, in that it does not resort to the clichéd evil disciplinarian gig throughout. Her character is humanized and, almost miraculously, is saved from being forced into an incredulous romantic plot line with the lead. Also noteworthy is the fact that the children -- who, in addition to acting ability, were cast based on their musical talents and skills -- are actually playing their respective instruments throughout the film. The School of Rock is an enjoyable movie that should have mass appeal, even beyond the hardcore Jack Black fans or rock aficionados.