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But Frederica Mathewes-Green (Our Sunday Visitor) had a grand time, largely due to the Black's charisma. She describes her experience as "a couple of hours of continual laughing." For cautious families, she adds, "Despite the rockin' theme, there is little to worry parents, no bad language or sexual situations, and Finn makes it clear to his charges that rock is not about 'getting wasted' but has a higher, if nebulous goal."

Michael Medved (Crosswalk) calls it "a rollicking good time and a jolt of earthy energy that parents can enjoy alongside their kids without cringing or apologizing. It deserves its four stars."

But Bob Smithouser (Plugged In) disagrees. "When Black is building his pupils' self-esteem, School of Rock rocks. But their education includes lessons in rebellion and belting out profane lyrics. [The movie] will alienate families who fail to find humor in heavy-metal idolatry and the corruption of children."

I had fun at the film, but I'm only giving this School a B-. While the children are charming and the music is a hoot, the jokes are rarely sharper than what you'll find in sitcom-land. The script feels like a rough draft and a predictable routine. Worse, it foolishly stereotypes parents and teachers as generally clueless about their young charges. Black's Finn is the only fully developed character, and Joan Cusack is not given enough room to exercise her own talents. Further, I was disappointed to feel an unspoken approval for how the students' new role model teaches them to deceive their elders in order to attain worldly glory.

Nevertheless, the strengths outweigh the weaknesses. While Linklater glosses over rock's more rugged realities, he strikes some profound chords regarding the importance of humility, creativity, self-expression, and teamwork. For the most part, Rock is a worthwhile jam session for discerning viewers. Just be sure to discuss it with your kids if you take them along.

Mainstream critics argue for and against the movie, but the majority are pleased. Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) says, "The other day I saw a family film named Good Boy! that was astonishingly stupid, and treated its audience as if it had a tragically slow learning curve and was immune to boredom. Here is a movie that proves you can make a family film that's alive and well-acted and smart and perceptive and funny—and that rocks." He adds that he has no idea why the movie is rated PG-13.

The School of Rock vs. The Fighting Temptations

Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films) is not turning cartwheels over Linklater's School of Rock, but in an e-mail he offered me a revealing comparison between this reckless, high-spirited comedy and another recent music-oriented flick: The Fighting Temptations. Which film would you guess is richer, the one about the rock band or the one about the gospel choir? Guess again.

(Warning: Some spoilers are included in these comparisons.)

Both movies feature a charlatan protagonist, a man who, having lost his main gig in life, finds an unexpected opportunity to profit if he pretends to have credentials he doesn't have. [Further, he] winds up cobbling together an unlikely musical act from inauspicious beginnings, intending to lead it to competition glory and potential financial reward. Both films also pit the hero against a suspicious, uptight woman in a position of authority who is a stickler for rules and is intimidating to others.

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October (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47