SCHOOL OF ROCK

US, 2003, 110 minutes, Colour.
Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Sarah Silverman.
Directed by Richard Linklater.

The popularity of Jack Black is one of the mysteries of Hollywood. On paper, he ought to be a screen presence that one dislikes, even at times loathes. He is rough and ready, looks and acts like a slob, has a bad mouth and bad attitudes, often anarchic. Yet, through Jesus' Son, High Fidelity, Shallow Hall and Orange County, he has made an extraordinary impression. We keep watching him. His super- confidence and comic timing and delivery are often mesmerising. It is the same with School of Rock, which is one of the most entertaining films of the year. It is Mr Holland's Opus, Dead Poet's Society and The Emperor's Club moved downmarket but with even better results for Black's young student musicians who become the School of Rock.

Black plays Dewey, for whom Rock and Roll, its rhythms, beat and lyrics are not just music. They also give it to 'the man', whoever is in authority. This time it is Joan Cusack reminding us once again what a versatile actress and comic she is. She is the uptight principal of an expensive and prestigious school who hires him under false pretences as a substitute teacher and whose school nearly collapses under the protests of angry parents who are horrified to learn that this slob has not been teaching them the curriculum - although they all become scholars of the history and ethos of Rock and Roll.

The usual assortment of kids are there in the classroom, the gawky guitarist, the bossy girl who will grow into Reese Witherspoon in Election, the gifted Asian pianist, the self-consciously large black girl who has a voice to die for, the effeminate costume designer, the computer whiz - and they are all ten. So, it's not so much the class resisting Black but rather how he transforms them and gives them a different vision of life and music.

Not only does Black work his slob-charm on the characters, he works it on us the audience, so that, while meeting him in real life would have major problems, watching him on screen has us on his side. The film is also often very funny. Director is Richard Linklater whose early films would have suited Black, Dazed and Confused, Slackers, SubUrbia?.

1. The success of the film? Popular with critics and audiences? The nature of the appeal, the characters, school and education, music, students realising potential, competitiveness without making it the be-all and end-all?

2. The city locations, the apartments, the school, the hall for the concert? Audiences identifying with this kind of location, characters and experience?

3. The importance of the music, the title, rock 'n roll, Dewey and his love for rock 'n roll, the range of songs used throughout the film, for Dewey, for the children? The choreography?

4. The focus on Dewey, Jack Black's screen persona, his size, gross manners, eye-rolling, delivery of words and his crassness? His wanting to be a rock 'n roll success? Music, recordings? Competitions? His sharing an apartment with Ned? Ned and his being agreeable to Dewey? Pattie and her hold over Ned, her intense dislike of Dewey and wanting him out?

5. Ned, a pleasant young man, under the influence of Pattie, long-time friend of Dewey? Wanting to help? His work as a teacher? Pattie continually wanting him to improve himself? Her own job, upwardly mobile, dominating?

6. Dewey and his need for money, for a job? His self-confidence and self-image? Listening to the phone call, deciding to go to the school, passing himself off as Ned? The discussions with the school principal? The ethos of the school, her hiring him? His confidence-trick style in putting it over the principal?

7. His going to the class, his meeting the students, their age, primary school level? Their musical talents? Classical music? Their parents and the fees paid for tuition to be in an orchestra? His response to the children, to the music?

8. His teaching methods, crass, explaining to them the language of rock 'n roll - and their puzzlement, beginning to learn the jargon? His classes, his explaining rock 'n roll instruments to them musical style? His allotting each of the students to be part of the orchestra as well as to be part of the support group, lighting, costumes, sound system?

9. The children, their various personalities, their musical talents? The multi-racial group? Their parents? Their wariness about rock 'n roll, their change of mind, listening to the music, becoming experts in the information? The practice, their learning the rhythms, tempos? Their building up to a successful rock 'n roll group? The girl who was self-conscious about being a singer - Dewey auditioning her and making her part of the singing group? His creating the project, their working on it, doing their homework? The composition of the song? Calling themselves The School of Rock?

10. The audition, their going as a group, their being part of the competition, Dewey's story that they were all ill or dying - and the organisers of the competition looking on the children, the children being convincing, the compassion?

11. Rosalie Mullens, her running the school, being proper? Her interest in Dewey, a growing friendship, his finding out her favourite music and talking about it, their going out? Stevie Nicks?

12. The cheque arriving, Pattie discovering the truth, Ned and his feeling put-upon? Pattie and her dominance, exposing Dewey?

13. The parents learning the truth, their violent reaction, campaign, stampede? Their going to the Battle of the Bands? The children going in secret, in a bus? The performance, the audience response, their zest, the success? The parents and their change of heart, supporting their children?

14. The other bands, the musical skills, their attitude towards the School of Rock? Their not winning? The realism of this touch? The crowd and the encore? Dewey and his happiness, success? Ned and his support? Pattie overcome? The parents and their support? Rosalie and her infatuation with Dewey?

15. The epilogue, the irony of Dewey as a teacher, teaching rock 'n roll, the response of the students?

16. The entertainment value in this kind of film? The variation on the school and education film? The admiration for rock 'n roll - and the intensity of Dewey's speeches, his class, explaining the spirit of rock 'n roll, the practitioners, the fact that it was a music of rebellion and an attempt to criticise those on top?