The School of Rock (2003)

A superb comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously and excels at a conventional genre by injecting rock energy. Singles out Jack Black's amazing, screen-hogging performance and physical humour as the core strength.

The critic hails the film's exuberant energy, Black's infectious passion as Dewey, and Linklater's intelligent handling of the formulaic story, which celebrates rock's life-affirming power without overdoing clichés.

The film is a perfect vehicle for Jack Black, delivering a feel-good hit with his energetic comic performance as the slacker teacher. It embraces familiar formula with energy, humour and talented young actors while avoiding excessive sentiment.

A rare kid's film that doesn't patronise its audience and entertains adults too. Praises Jack Black's outstanding performance and Linklater for avoiding schmaltz while drawing natural performances from the young cast.

Presents the film as a different kind of teacher training comedy where a headbanging jackass supply teacher saves square kids with rock music. Calls it a cathartic class comedy for kids of all sizes, like Bugsy Malone in rock pomp or Slacker meets Spy Kids.

The film is a likeable, sweet-natured family comedy in which Jack Black finds his breakthrough role as a rock musician posing as a supply teacher who inspires his class with the power of rock. It lacks the satirical edge of similar comedies but succeeds through Black's energetic performance.

Linklater's mainstream effort is formulaic but powered by genuine passion for rock, with Jack Black's whirlwind performance driving the laughs. It succeeds as an amusing, derivative comedy updating teacher-student stories with guitars and rebellion.

The most conventionally tilted movie that director Richard Linklater or scenarist Mike White have been involved with, it is a genial comedy toplining Jack Black as a rock 'n' roll lifer/loser teaching a classroom of 10-year-olds. Linklater and White avoid opportunities for excess cuteness, generally letting adults get the laughs while allowing the juveniles some quizzical dignity.

The film is as serious as it can be about its comic subject and never condescends to its characters or audience. It proves you can make a family film that is alive, well-acted, smart, perceptive, funny, and rocks.

The critic praises Jack Black's perfectly tailored manic performance as a rock-obsessed substitute teacher and Linklater's light touch in turning a familiar formula into an entertaining, philosophical comedy about the liberating power of rock music.

The irresistibly good-natured comedy proposes a bold path toward self-realization by imagining a suppressed rock 'n' roll maniac in everyone. Jack Black's musically savvy caricature infuses real passion into the movie, which demonstrates an unerring sense of where to draw the line.