While Jack Black ("Orange County," ) is definitely one of those "love him or hate him" actors, there is no denying that his latest flick, "School of Rock," is very endearing. Granted, the film is a solid hour-and-a-half parade of Black's slapstick humor and AC/DC-like screaming and singing, but it's a fresh take on the popular "I'm a fraud, but I can turn around and help people" genre. Even if viewers don't find Black to be a talented musician, they have to give credit to the group of pre-teens in the film who, in clear opposition to the Britney Spears/boy band dominated recent past, play their own instruments -- and do so really well.

Before we meet these pint-sized prodigies, we are introduced to Jack Black's character, Dewey Finn, a jobless drunk pursuing his far-fetched dream of achieving rock stardom. To survive, he mooches off of his best friend and roommate Ned Schneebly (Mike White, who also wrote the wonderful screenplay and appeared in "The Good Girl"). Although Ned once shared Dewey's dream of putting on the best rock show ever, he has since abandoned that fantasy for a life of substitute teaching and submitting to his controlling girlfriend, Patty (Sarah Silverman, Comedy Central's "Crank Yankers"). Dewey's already pathetic life takes a turn for the worse when he is ousted from the band he formed, and threatened with eviction from his apartment, unless he begins paying his share of the rent. Patty advises Dewey to be more like Ned and for once, Dewey takes her advice, but a bit too literally.

When the principal of the prestigious Horace Green Preparatory School calls the apartment looking for Ned to step in and teach a class of fifth graders, Dewey, desperate for work, assumes Ned's identity and accepts the position. Despite a lack of training, he successfully fools the extraordinarily uptight Principal Mullins (Joan Cusack, "High Fidelity"). He gives the children full days of recess during his first week, but after he spies on his students' music class, he decides to take advantage of their musical talent and form a new band with them.

He splits the class into band members, backup singers, lighting and clothing designers, security guards, groupies and one particularly sharp girl becomes the band's manager. Drawing on their love for competition, Dewey decides to enter them into a Battle of the Bands contest with the intention of using the prize money to pay off his various debts. Dewey spends class time practicing and teaching the students rock history, as well as the elements of great rock music, but as time passes, he finds that he can learn from these gifted children as well.

The film utilizes its cast members well, as they all feed off of Black's silly, in-your-face energy. Silverman plays a great bitch, while White is perfect as a doormat. Watching Cusack transform from an uneasy administrator to a wild woman is amusing, but the kids are the real stand out performers. They carry themselves like true professionals, exuding charisma and showing off their mastery of their respective instruments. Newcomers Joey Gaydos, the flawless lead guitarist in the film, and Maryam Hussan, the soulful vocal powerhouse, may be virtually unknown now, but if there is any justice in this world, their names, among others in the film, will become universally recognizable in a few short years.

What's more is that there's no need for a contrived love story here. The terrific storyline is interspersed with hysterical comedy making the movie a sure crowd-pleaser. Plus, the original new songs featured in the film are quite enjoyable. Black is fantastic as the lead and the directors smartly chose to allow Black's creative energy to flow through every aspect of the film. Had Black been stifled, much of the humor would have been lost. Best of all, the movie is as realistic as Hollywood gets, so don't expect Black to become the glamorous frontman of the most successful rock band in the world by the film's end (although he is the frontman of the hilarious rock band, Tenacious D). Do expect to be constantly entertained and walk out of that movie theater with a good, happy feeling.