Jack Black rocks the schoolhouse with his latest movie “School of Rock.”

Black plays Dewey Finn, a struggling musician who wants to win the battle of the bands competition more than anything. The only problem is that Finn was kicked out of his band and is now bandless and out of money.

With his roommate’s girlfriend, Patty, played by Sarah Silverman, hassling him to get a job and move out, and his roommate Ned Schneebly cowardly supporting him, Finn is stuck in a hard place.

Finn finds the solution for both of his problems when he intercepts a phone call his roommate for a substitute teaching job at the prestigious Horace Green Elementary School with a bunch of 12 year olds.

He then begins to pull in a steady paycheck and discovers that his students are talented musicians.

Finn then recruits his students to join his band by telling them it is for a competition between all the schools.

The kids go through a crash course of learning about the history of rock and roll and how to play their instruments in the style of rock, as opposed to the classical style they are used to playing.

The group sneaks in practice sessions while trying to avoid the cantankerous principal Rosalie Mullins, played by Joan Cusack.

The result is a group of kids who learn how to have fun and a band that actually sounds awesome while Finn learns there is more to life than just rock.

The film isn’t that big of a departure for Black or the kids that play his students. Black is the singer, songwriter and guitarist of Tenacious D.

Also, the kids in the movie are actually playing their instruments. For example, Joey Gaydos Jr. who plays Zack the lead guitar player, is a sixth grader making his film debut. He got his first guitar for Christmas when he was one but only began to take music seriously when he was eight year old. He already has cut his first album for his band Badd Racquette. Also Kevin Clark, playing Freddy the drummer, began playing the drums at the age of three and also plays the piano, violin, cello and guitar.

With Black’s usual outrageous acts and the kids amazing ability to play, this movie is great for anyone with a sense of humor and an appreciation for rock.