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Jack Black has more than one string to his groovy bow, holding down a movie career and fronting rock group Tenacious D. He combines the two in Richard Linklater's School Of Rock, as a frustrated singer who teaches a motley class of children how to "stick it to the man" with the power of music. The end result is 8 Mile meets The Breakfast Club, a fun and funky kids' comedy from the director who brought you Dazed And Confused.

Black's unemployed slob, Dewy Finn, needs fast bucks, and lucks into teaching a class of prepubescent stiffs. It's no cakewalk finding favour with the kids, though, and nigh-on impossible to win over prim-and-proper Principal Mullins (Joan Cusack).

Dewy is convinced, however, that under every buttoned-down shirt there's a rock god trying to burst out. He's especially keen to see the children find their "inner punk", and exploits their musical talents in a quest to win the local Battle of the Bands contest...

"KEEPS THE ENERGY PULSING THROUGHOUT"

If you didn't like Jack Black's turn in High Fidelity, steer clear here: he amps it up to 11 and keeps the energy pulsing throughout (kids will find his brand of loudmouthed impudence a blast). He creates great chemistry with the supporting cast of youngsters, including geek-cum-keyboard-king Lawrence (Robert Tsai), shy backing singer Tomika (Maryam Hassan), and troubled lead guitarist Zack (Joey Gaydos Jr).

The interaction between Black and the kids provides moments of real empathy on top of the laughs, although the set-up can occasionally feel obvious - as in Cusack's hot-under-the-starched-collar routine. Nonetheless, School Of Rock is a class above your average yoof comedy. It's irreverent without crossing the line, and hits a tender note without lapsing into maudlin sentiment.

The lesson is this: switch on, tune in, and rock out!