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School of Rock (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:183
Fresh:167
Rotten:16
Average Rating:7.7/10
Consensus: Black's exuberant, gleeful performance turns School of Rock into a hilarious, rocking good time.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for some rude humor and drug references
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Oct 3, 2003 Wide
Box Office: $81,147,397
Synopsis: SCHOOL OF ROCK is a hilarious romp that parents will enjoy as much as their children. Jack Black stars as Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who doesn't seem to be rocking much of anything these days.... SCHOOL OF ROCK is a hilarious romp that parents will enjoy as much as their children. Jack Black stars as Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who doesn't seem to be rocking much of anything these days. Kicked out of the band that he started and about to be kicked out of his apartment, Dewey pretends that he's his roommate Ned Schneebly (Mike White) in order to take a job as a substitute teacher. Arriving at an ultra conservative--and ultra expensive--prep school, Dewey manages to fool the uptight principal (Joan Cusack). Soon, he finds himself in a classroom with a bunch of fifth graders. Obviously, Dewey has no intentions of teaching these kids anything, but when he discovers that a handful of them are talented musicians, a light bulb goes off. Determined to enter the local battle of the bands and win $25,000, Dewey embarks on his greatest mission of all: Teaching these kids how to rock! Director Richard Linklater (DAZED AND CONFUSED, WAKING LIFE) delivers his most universally appealing film with SCHOOL OF ROCK. Written specifically for Black by screenwriter/actor White, this outrageously entertaining crowd-pleaser elevates Black to superstar status. [More]
Starring: Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Sarah Silverman
Starring: Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Sarah Silverman, Miranda Cosgrove, Joey Gaydes
Director: Richard Linklater
Director: Richard Linklater
Screenwriter: Mike White
Producer: Scott Rudin
Composer: Craig Wedren
Studio: Paramount Pictures
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Release:
Dec 30, 2008
Reviews for School of Rock
Instead of the freshness of About a Boy, it presents the tried-and-true of a watered down The Goonies.
A string of cliches lashed together by a formulaic plot that features underwritten characters and sit-com style humor.
Black works better as a team player than carrying a movie alone, and neither White nor Linklater have their hearts in this kind of parade-of -the- cute-kids flick.
The very anarchic spirit Black’s Dewey Finn imparts on the youngsters falls away in an avalanche of tidy sentiment and warm fuzzies, and it becomes clearer than in the Farrelly Brothers’ 'Shallow Hal' that he's at sea when he’s forced to dial down his per
The problem is that the film has about as much creativity as the episode of Brady Bunch where the kids decide to put together a band.
Despite its earnest demeanor, School of Rock is without purpose -- a feel-good message movie without an identifiable message.
[A]bout as rebellious and free and rockin' as a Clear Channel radio station, packaging payola-ed ‘cool’ for a mass audience and dishing out focus-grouped, MBA-approved ‘hip’...
Part of the blame should go to White's scattershot script, part to Linklater for not tightening things up, and the rest should be stuck on Black, who seems not to be ready for starring gigs.
Latest News for School of Rock
August 05, 2009:
Columbia Adopts White's Babe in the Woods ![]()
"School of Rock" writer Mike White has sold Columbia Pictures his script for "Babe in the Woods," an action-comedy about "a female freshman from the Midwest who arrives at Yale... More...
October 17, 2008:
UK Critics Consensus: Is Burn After Reading A Coens Classic? Does Eagle Eye Have Enough Action, Man?
In this week's roster of UK cinema releases we have the latest addition to the Coen canon in the CIA comedy caper, Burn After Reading, Shia LeBeouf stakes a further claim to the... More...
September 08, 2008:
Linklater Says "Not So Fast" to School of Rock 2 ![]()
According to Richard Linklater, Paramount may have jumped the gun when they announced that "School of Rock 2" was on its way. More...
July 14, 2008:
Jack Black Heading Back to School ![]()
Looks like Mike White's School of Rock 2 script was pretty solid -- Paramount has given the sequel a green light, and Jack Black has signed on to star. More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 77% 77% | The Hangover |
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 24% 24% | G-Force |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 82% 82% | Paranormal Activity |
| 57% 57% | 9 |
| 44% 44% | Jennifer's Body |
| 58% 58% | A Perfect Getaway |
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