Everybody's a critic - 'School of Rock'

Three and a half stars (out of four)

First of all, in spite of the PG-13 rating and the television previews (which I don't think represent it very well), this is one of the best family movies in years. Maybe the best since "Shrek." It is also gratifying to adults because the script doesn't condescend to children and because it really loves its subject matter, which is rock music.

Jack Black gives his most energetic and charming performance of his career. This was a role only he could have pulled off, and he carries the movie. I am pretty sure the part must have been written for him. Also, for all of you fans of his earlier work, it never feels like he holds back. It is Jack Black in his purest form.

This movie has ending credits the least likely to walk out on in recent memory.

-- Carl Wagner, Web site designer

One and a half stars (out of four)

I think Jack Black is funnier than all get out, and I'd never seen him in something I didn't like. Now I have.

He plays an unemployed bum who gets kicked out of a lame rock band and lands a substitute teaching gig at a posh private school. He doesn't quite know what he is doing until he discovers that the 10-year-olds have some untapped musical talent. So in two weeks he teaches them how to play every instrument and turns them into a fully functional "rock" band. (They rock about as hard as George Michael.)

Jack Black is much better in an R-rated movie, when he is free to unload with both barrels and curse like a drunken sailor. After 30 minutes I was praying for an end to the misery. Just take your $6 and put it through a paper shredder.

-- Chris Taylor, lab courier/student

Three stars (out of four)

I donated a kidney to pay the ransom for my popcorn and soda, entered a dark theater, tripped over a lady who coughed up a lung the entire film and ended up spilling a couple of hundred dollars of popcorn. But once settled in I loved this movie.

Of course growing up in the '70s had something to do with it. The music is great, the plot predictable but cute. Jack Black is as usual a riot, and Joan Cuzak is as usual a terrific supporting actress. I loved the Stevie Nicks scene.

The kids in the movie have terrific raw talent. If you love the ridiculous behavior in die-hard rockers then you will love making fun of them in this film. The rock and roll rebel hiding in all of us emerges for a few hours.

Everyone was smiling and laughing at the end of the movie. Yes, the film rocks.

-- Carolyn Kempf, travel consultant