Before he became the mega star he is today on the big screen Jack Black was mostly known for small roles and of course Tenacious D. In 2003 he took center stage teaming up with director Richard Linklater for the comedy School of Rock. Now to celebrate the films 20th anniversary Paramount rereleasing the film in an all-new Limited Edition Steelbook Blu-ray.

 

School of Rock follows a hell-raising guitarist with delusions of grandeur. Kicked out of his band and desperate for work, Dewey impersonates a substitute teacher and turns a class of fifth grade high-achievers into high-voltage rock and rollers.  

 

This is another one of those films that my kids loved, but so did I so it was on heavy rotation at our house. The story is a formula we have seen a hundred times before, but its Jack Black insane but endearing behavior that helps to take it in new places. He brings a loser quality to the persona, but is always trying to be something better and you can’t help bur root for him despite is often idiot persona. His love of all things rock mimics his true persona and in turn the reality shines through the performance.

 

The kids in the film are great all on their own with each of them bringing their own depth and fun to the mix. The engagement between the kids and Black is where this film hinges and it works to perfection. They don’t dive as heavy into the drama of the kids as they have in other stories like this and instead just let them connect to the music and fun of what is being put in front of them.

 

The film isn’t a complicated story and easily predictable, but thanks to the great writing, performances and fun of it all it holds up to be just as great as