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Stars: Jack Black, Joan Cusack,
Mike White, and Sarah Silverman
Writer: Mike White
Director: Richard Linklater
Feature length: 109 minutes
Extras: Commentary With Actor Jack
Black and Director Richard Linklater, Kid’s Commentary, “Lessons Learned
from School Of Rock” Featurette, Jack Black’s Pitch To Led Zeppelin,
“School Of Rock” Music Video, Kid’s Video Diary, MTV’s Diary Of Jack
Black, Theatrical Trailer, Bonus Trailers
DVD-ROM Extras: Dewey Finn’s
History Of Rock Interactive Feature, Original Theatrical Website Archive
Languages: English and French
Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and English Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles: English Captions and
Closed Captions and French Language Subtitles (On Select Extra Value Features
Only)
Packaging: Amaray Keep Case
Chapter Stops: 18
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Sound and Dolby Surround Sound
Year of Theatrical Release: 2003/DVD
Release: 2004
Theatrical Distributor: Paramount
Pictures
Home Video Distributor: Paramount
Home Entertainment
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
“School Of Rock” is probably
Richard Linklater’s most commercial feature film to date with a far broader
appeal to families as well as teenagers and aging slackers alike. Jack Black
play’s an aspiring guitarist whose passion for rock music exceeds his talents
and subsequently causes him to be kicked out of his old band, which has decided
to go commercial and try get a record deal. Unemployed and henpecked by his
roommate’s girlfriend (Sarah Silverman) to get a job, Black passes himself off
has his roommate (Mike White) so he can earn some quick cash as a substitute
teacher at a local prep school. Shortly after he arrives, he discovers the kids
in his class have musical talents that he can harness to turn them into budding
rock stars with an aim at playing in the upcoming “Battle of the Bands”
showcase.
Mike White, who also wrote the
screenplay, tailored the script specifically to take advantage of Black’s
comedic talents having already worked with him on the film “Orange County.”
It might seem odd, but despite appearing in a number of comedies and a whole lot
of character roles before headlining his own films, I still am not sure whether
or not the label comedian or comedic actor fits Jack Black. I still remember
seeing him on “The X-Files” in the third season episode “D.P.O.” where
he played the ill-fated friend of a disturbed teenager that could manipulate
electricity, which was played by Giovanni Ribisi. In that TV appearance he never
struck me as a comedic actor, but rather a character actor, but who says one has
to limit his or herself to anything? I only hope Mr. Black will utilize his
talents in more varied roles and not just comedies. The kids are simply
wonderful in this film because they look like they are having a good time and
that enthusiasm carries over well to the viewer. There are a few moments with
Black and the kids that are truly inspired, but for the most part I found
“School Of Rock” to be rather ordinary instead of extraordinary. This is not
to say it is a bad film because it really is not. It is just more or less by the
numbers as far as comedies of this type go. So as long as you keep that in mind,
“School Of Rock” is actually pretty entertaining for what it is.
Paramount Home Entertainment
presents “School Of Rock” on DVD as a “Special Collector’s Edition”
available in anamorphic widescreen or pan and scan day and date of each other,
but sold separately. The widescreen version looks quite good with an anamorphic
(1.85:1) presentation that preserves the manner in which the film was exhibited
theatrically as close as possible for home theater video users. There are no
distortions or artifact to note. The picture quality remains solid throughout.
Most of the English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack mix is used for the
musical segments to give the viewer a more three-dimensional listening
environment and is otherwise very clear. A French Language Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Soundtrack option is also encoded along with an English Dolby Surround
Soundtrack and English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired and
French Language Subtitles on select bonus materials.
Jack Black and Richard Linklater
share a screen specific audio commentary track that is pretty informative and
somewhat laid back in nature while select kids that form the band in the film
share their own feature length audio commentary track that is actually a lot
more entertaining than I was expecting. I think it is because they are young and
had a great time and as a result that emotion carries over well to listeners and
makes the DVD sort of like a virtual shared experience or vicarious shared
understanding that enriches the screening as a whole. In fact I would say the
two commentary tracks are the best extra value materials included within this
DVD title.
The commentaries are supported by
a behind-the-scenes look at the kids attending the film’s premiere at the
Toronto Film Festival (8:14), MTV’s own Jack Black special (16:32) an EPK
featurette (24:50), the music video, which reunites Black with most of his young
band members (3:39), and a VH1 PSA (: 33). In addition the theatrical trailer
(2.30) is presented with full 5.1 Surround Sound and there are bonus trailers
for the upcoming summer theatrical release for the remake of “The Stepford Wives” with Nicole Kidman (1:23) and the
upcoming DVD release of “Pay Check” (2:32). The best extra value video
feature is Jack Black’s filmed pitch to Led Zeppelin to allow the filmmakers
to use “The Immigrant Song” in the movie, which was successful (3:36).
DVD-ROM users with Windows 98SE or
higher will have access to a detailed interactive outline of the blackboard that
illustrates the roots of rock music and text notes on some of the many bands and
styles of music it has inspired. There are also three extra QuickTime® videos
with Jack Black. In one he lists his four favorite bands as being The Who, Pink
Floyd, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Radiohead. The complete original theatrical
website is also archived onto the DVD too and for the most part does not even
seem to require an Internet connection to enjoy.
The menus are well rendered in a
style similar to the film’s opening credits and are easy to navigate.
“School Of Rock: Special Collector’s Edition” will debut on DVD-Video on
Tuesday, March 2, 2004 at retailers on and offline from Paramount Home
Entertainment.
© Copyright 2004 By Mark A.
Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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