The School of Rock (2003)

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writer (WGA):

Mike White (written by)

Release Date:

3 October 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

Take Notes.

Plot:

A wannabe rock star in need of cash poses as a substitute teacher at a prep school, and tries to turn his class into a rock band.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Substitute Teacher | Student | Guitar | Private School

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jack Black	...	Dewey Finn
Adam Pascal	...	Theo
Lucas Papaelias	...	Neil
Chris Stack	...	Doug
Sarah Silverman	...	Patty Di Marco
Mike White	...	Ned Schneebly
Lucas Babin	...	Spider
Joan Cusack	...	Rosalie Mullins
Jordan-Claire Green	...	Michelle
Veronica Afflerbach	...	Eleni
Miranda Cosgrove	...	Summer Hathaway
Joey Gaydos Jr.	...	Zack Mooneyham
Robert Tsai	...	Lawrence
Angelo Massagli	...	Frankie
Kevin Alexander Clark	...	Fred (as Kevin Clark)

Also Known As:

"School of Rock" - Germany, UK (DVD box title), USA (promotional title)
"School of Rock" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some rude humor and drug references.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Spain:T | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG | Germany:6 (bw) | Hong Kong:I | Netherlands:AL | Norway:A | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40075)

Filming Locations:

Buckley Country Day School - I.U. Willets Road, Herricks, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Writer Mike White is actually not a fan of classic rock. The basis of the movie is actually used so Jack Black could perform his own favorite music

Goofs:

Continuity: When "School of Rock" are on stage for their big show, Dewey enthusiastically plays the lead guitar break after the first verse, where he starts dramatically flailing and stomping around the stage. Looking closely you can see his feet getting dangerously tangled in the blue guitar cord used by Katie on bass. In the next shot from a different angle, however, that specific blue cord is nowhere to be seen on the floor near Dewey's guitar theatrics.

Quotes:

[backstage]
Female Security Guard:Sorry. To get in, you've got to be in a band or have a pass.
Miss Mullins:I am principal of the school's band.
Female Security Guard:Oh, right on.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Amazing Race: Don't Let a Cheese Hit Me (#14.1)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

The Wait

Jack Black is Back! Better than Ever!

Finally! Somebody has done right by Jack Black. Somebody has actually made a movie where Jack Black can be the man and show off his talents. This is Jack Black at his best and I feel privileged to be alive while this guy's star continues to skyrocket!

Dewey Finn (Jack Black) loves rock and roll. He is the consummate fan who knows every worthwhile group and song. He is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist in his own band called "No Vacancy." But other members of the group have grown tired of his immature stage antics, such as 20-minute solos and stage-dives. They vote him out and hire someone to replace him for an upcoming Battle of the Bands contest.

Downcast and distraught, Dewey doesn't know what to do. Plus, his usually patient roommate Ned (Mike White), a schoolteacher, is being pressured by his aggressive girlfriend (Sarah Silverman) to make Dewey pay the money he owes for rent or get out. When a call comes in to Ned asking him to serve as a substitute teacher at the prestigious Horace Green Elementary School, Dewey decides to assume his identity and take the job.

Of course, faced with a class of fifth-graders all nicely clothed in their school uniforms, this rocker doesn't have a clue as to what to do. So he tells them to chill out and enjoy some downtime. This scheme works for a little while but then Dewey visits the orchestra class. Lights go off in his head and bingo! -- the new class project is to form a rock band. He decides to teach them everything he knows about rock with lectures on its history, the evils of "The Man," and the essentials of playing rock songs.

Dewey's spirits are lifted when he realizes that there are some talented musicians in the class including Zack (Joey Gaydos, Jr.), the lead guitarist; Katie (Rebecca Brown) on bass; and Lawrence (Robert Tsai) on keyboards. Freddy (Kevin Clark), the class rebel, turns out to be an eager learner on drums, and Tomika (Maryam Hassan) surprises him with her unusual singing talent. The smartest girl in the class, Summer (Miranda Cosgrove), gets her chance to excel as band manager while others serve as back-up singers, special effects wizard, head of security, and the official selectors of the band's name.

The humor quotient of the film is heightened by the funny performance of Joan Cusack as the uptight and unlocked principal of Horace Green Elementary School. When Dewey discovers that she is a secret fan of Fleetwood Mac, they are able to connect as friends. The rock fan gets his wish when he has the class entered in the local Battle of the Bands. By the end of this rollicking film, you'll happily be chanting, "For those about to rock, we salute you!"

Overall: 9/10