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:

Metrosexual | Frat Pack | Diner | Gay Kid | Beer

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 11 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Aug. 10	8:00 PM	TBS
Sun. Aug. 10	10:10 PM	TBS

Cast

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	...	Freddy Jones (as Kevin Clark)

Also Known As:

School of Rock (Germany) (UK) (DVD box title) (USA) (promotional 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 | Finland:K-3 | South Korea:All | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | 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:

The original screenplay was called "The School of Rock", and it was later shortened to "School of Rock". However, the opening credits had already been designed and partially shown in theaters with the word "The" in the title. Director Linklater decided not to digitally remove the extra word from the credits.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Dewey mispronounces Rush drummer Neil Peart's last name as "pert" instead of Peart's preferred pronunciation of "peert". This is a very common mistaken pronunciation.

Quotes:

Michelle: Mr. S? We came up with some names for the band.
Dewey Finn: All right, hit me.
Eleni: The Bumblebees?
Dewey Finn: No, it's too sissy.
Eleni: The Koala Bears?
Dewey Finn: No, what are you talking about? It's too sissy.
[Dewey sees Miss Mullins]
Dewey Finn: Hey, Miss Mullins.
Michelle: How about, Pig Rectum?
Rosalie Mullins: Michelle!
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Amadeus (1984)

Soundtrack:

Iron Man

Maybe it's not intelligent - but it's funny and it rocks!

Glancing at what other people have written about this movie, it seems that these individuals are taking this film a bit too seriously. Worrying about the "messages" this movie is delivering? Come on, there is no way that the con that Jack Black's character pulls off could ever get far in the real world! I don't think any sane person watching this movie would take this seriously. This is a comedy, for crying out loud, made to make us laugh!

I thought Black was fine in this movie. Sure, maybe his character is a little one-note with his proclamations of "rock on" and "stick it to the man", but Black somehow manages to do it over and over without being boring. He's unbelievably energetic AND versatile, delivering these same things in different ways each time that prevent the movie from getting into a rut. I think it's safe to say that only Black himself could have made this role work so well.

There is plenty of humor and great music. Even my senior citizen parents kept laughing, and told me after it was over that they enjoyed the rock soundtrack as well. It's a great movie for the whole family. Why was this rated PG-13? Sure, there are some references to stuff like alcohol and groupies, but they are not emphasized at all in their brief passing - and your kids will already have seen these kind of things treated much worse elsewhere! In fact, here in British Columbia, the ratings board gave it a "G" rating.