This is an excellent show – and good for kids as well.
I like the premise and the execution. It is both a comedy and a touching story. It is both an “acting out – bad boy” and a voyage of discovery.
I loved the supporting cast of his roommate and his room mate’s girl friend. She did such a great job that she may be type cast forever. The tension between then three characters was so very real and palpable.
Joan Cusak was excellent – I have seen others talk of this as a breakout role for her – Huh? This is still part of her classic type-cast insane librarien thing. That is too bad for her – but she did do a super job in creating her character. Too bad for her and us that she only gets these type of roles.
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 – Go see it at the movies, rent it as soon as it comes out and then buy the DVD to see it over and over again. I have seen it three times and will still buy the DVD when it comes out.
Criticisms: Sometimes Jack Black was too intense – in a few places it seemed as though he overacted a bit – it was impressive acting but a little scary at times. It shows he has amazing range – wow.
I did not like the plot transition when the cops came in on parents night. The transition from that moment to the morning of the battle of the bands was way too “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”. I think that there is probably some explanation that ended up on the cutting room floor in the interest of time. But if one were to do it over instead of just cutting stuff out (my hypothesis) it could have been much more believable.