Tagline: He just landed the gig of his life: 5th grade.
After being fired from his band, a guitarist and singer, Dewey Finn ends up getting a job as a fourth grade substitute teacher at a private school. With his free living ways, attitude and quirky antics he starts to influence the kids and at the same time he prepares them for a battle of the bands.
Hell-raising guitarist Dewey Finn (Jack Black) is anti-establishment to the hilt, irreverent to the max, and he worships the power of rock and roll. With a penchant for stage-dives and 20-minute solos, Dewy is determined to lead his rock group to victory at the local Battle of the Bands but his band mates fire him instead. Down-and-out, in need of rent money and wallowing in his apartment strewn with take-out containers, Dewey picks up a phone call intended for his roommate Ned (Mike White), and impulsively accepts a job as a substitute teacher at the prestigious Horace Green Elementary School.
There, by-the-book Principal Mullins (Joan Cusack) watches his every move like a hawk. 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 overhears them performing in an orchestra class, he decides to mold these young musical prodigies into a high-voltage rock band, which will change their lives forever.
As far as Jack Black and Dewey Finn are concerned, the actor and the character he portrays couldn’t be more similar or different. Black is the singer, songwriter, guitarist of his own band Tenacious D, and Finn is a singer, songwriter and guitarist of his own band No Vacancy.. .except they kick him out. And, while rock ‘n’ roll is a significant part of Black’s life, rock ‘n’ roll is the only thing in Einn’s life.
With the genius of Black’s stellar comedic style and White’s clever script, “The School of Rock” already exceeded the parameters of a traditional comedy, but when the filmmakers recruited director Richard Linklater, they knew they had someone at the helm of the film who could take it even further. Known for such landmark independent films as “Slacker” and “Dazed and Confused,” Linklater also happens to have a penchant for making movies with a heavy influence of rock ‘n’ roll.
“I’m a big fan of Jack, both as a musician and as an actor,’ says Linklater. “And Jack’s character, a struggling musician willing to do almost anything to help realize his dreams, reminded me of my formative years as a filmmaker.”
“Rick (Linklater) brings reality, honesty and believability to the film,” explains Black. “He reins me in, which is important because I’m always going 10 miles too far over the top. So when I go a little too crazy, he brings me back to reality.”
Not unlike the actor who portrays him, the fiery Dewey Finn is on the verge of exploding throughout “The School of Rock.” First, he gives a volatile performance with his band, launching into a long guitar solo and stage-diving into the crowd with no one there to catch him. Next, while masquerading as his roommate, substitute teacher Ned Schneebly (Mike White), Dewey discharges lectures on the wonders of rock and the evils of “The Man” to a wide-eyed class of fifth graders. And finally, in the end, he ignites his students into giving the performance of their lives at the Battle of the Bands.
There to constantly snuff out Dewey’s fuse is straight-laced Rosalie Mullins (Joan Cusack), the always uptight unless she’s had a few beers principal of the prestigious private school where Dewey is substitute teaching. “I’m Dewey’s nemesis, and I could blow the whistle on him at any moment,” explains Cusack. “It’s a great role because, down deep, Rosalie Mullins really wants to let loose and be wild. So in a way, I guess she sort of admires Dewey.”
Black, who appeared with Cusack and her brother, John, in the critically acclaimed “High Fidelity,” says working with Joan again was a blast. “She’s very funny,” observes Black. “It was great watching her character crack.”
“Joan is awesome,” agrees White. “She usually plays these sort of blithe spirits, so it’s funny to see her as the uptight, buttoned-down principal. It’s also great to watch her and Jack go at it.”
Rounding out the principal cast with her portrayal of Ned Schneebly’s bossy girlfriend, Patty, is former “Saturday Night Live” writer/comedienne Sarah Silverman. who says that while her role in the film wasn’t comedic, she was glad to play the foil for a change.
“Once I read Mike White’s script, I just had to be in the film,” remembers Silverman. “I don’t usually get to play the ‘bad guy,’ so it was a great chance for me to do something a little different. Besides, let’s face it: If you’re in a film with Jack Black, right from the start you know it’s going to be pretty damn funny.”
School of Rock (2003)
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Starring: Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Sarah Silverman, Miranda Cosgrove, Lucas Papaelias, Jordan-Claire Green, Veronica Afflerbach, Kevin Alexander Clark
Screenplay by: Mike White
Production Design by: Jeremy Conway
Cinematography by: Rogier Stoffers
Film Editing by: Sandra Adair
Costume Design by: Karen Patch
Set Decoration by: Karin Wiesel
Music by: Craig Wedren
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some rude humor, drug references.
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Release Date: October 17, 2003
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