October 11, 2013 - Written by: Emma Farley

Feel Good Film: School of Rock

When School of Rock was initially released, I was going through my ‘film snob’ phase and refused to watch ‘kids films’. That’s also why it took me so long to watch 13 Going on 30, but that’s a story for a different post. I hadn’t seen much from Jack Black before and just dismissed the film as one of those where an actor does a cheesey family film to make the studio a few quid (Bill Murray did Garfield, Neil Patrick Harris did The Smurfs, Kate Winslet did Flushed Away). Then, one afternoon, years later, I caught it out of the corner of my eye while my brother was watching it and realised it was actually pretty pissterical (it’s a term I coined, meaning something so funny you almost wet your pants!). And I discovered it was directed by Richard Linklater – the genius behind Dazed and Confused and the Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight trilogy. Now if that won’t tempt an uber film geek, I don’t know what will!

(Image via)

In case you still think you’re too good for School of Rock, I’ll fill you in on the synopsis (then you really need to go see it!). Jack Black plays a wannabe rockstar who poses as a substitute teacher in order to pay the bills. Then, upon finding out he needs some help entering Battle of the Bands, he enlists his new students. It’s cheesy, predictable, a laugh a minute and everything that you want from a feel good film.

School of Rock was Glee before Glee. All of the high school clichés are there and every single character stereotype pops up, plus the kids are all super-talented little buggers!

“School of Rock is such an awesome film.. I love the geeky techno asian guy – rock n roll!!”
Kayleigh Ann Parker, Oh Hey Kayspray

We all had that one truly great teacher – someone who inspired us and made us see the world (well, our lives, we were only young after all) in a completely different way. Now, we might not have been lucky enough to have someone quite like Jack Black, but School of Rock is a sweet reminder of that one person who made us believe we could be whatever we wanted to be and is a great outlet for that little rockstar in all of us.

“I wish Jack Black was my music teacher at school! Kids discovering ACDC, Stevie Nicks… Rocking out… What’s not to like!?”
Yaz, aliljoy

I love a good quotable film too. Try and drop a semi-obscure film quote into a conversation with someone relatively new in your life and I guarantee there are few feelings as great as that one when that person comes back with another. My favourite from School of Rock has to be “you’re tacky and I hate you!”

‘”No it means I was drunk yesterday”. Great film for everyone. Unless you are as cold as a choc ice.’
Daisy, aliljoy

These cute little child stars were bleddy legends. Now, prepare to feel old when you see what the cast looks like now… Can you believe it has been ten years?!

Image via

Last week I asked you to vote for your favourite musical. The votes are in and they have been counted and verified. The film for next week is (drumroll)… Hello Dolly! And, rather conveniently, that’s one of Yaz’s all-time fave feel good flicks, so if you want to earn some brownie points from the aliljoy founder, check it out and let us know what you think. Tweet me! your one-line review (@EmsLF) for a chance to feature in the next post.

As for the next title, Halloween is just around the corner, and we’re putting the ‘feel good’ part of the film of the week post aside in order to share our favourite scary movies with you. Post below with your personal top title for the scariest night of the year and vote for which of our film favourites you’d most like to see.

See you next week, same Bat time, same Bat channel… if you’re not too scared!

Tags: film review School of Rock