Rock School
Newmarket Films | Release Date: June 3, 2005 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
67
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews
Positive:
22
Mixed:
4
Negative:
1
Watch Now
Buy on

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
91
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
It's a big enough film to hold all the contradictions. Green has an ego and a gift for stealing the spotlight with a wink and a grin. Yet his respect for the kids is genuine. Read full review
88
Chicago TribuneAllison Benedikt
Hilarious, inspired, frenzied. Read full review
88
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
Thoroughly engaging. Read full review
80
VarietyRobert Koehler
Irresistibly entertaining and full of unique character portraits. Read full review
80
Dallas ObserverMelissa Levine
Through hilarious and charming interviews with the kids, extended chat sessions with Green, a few words from parents, and a healthy dose of performance footage, we get a sense of what sort of community Green has created, for better and worse. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesCarina Chocano
Immensely entertaining. Read full review
80
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
Engrossing and frequently hilarious. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterDuane Byrge
Rock School rips out in the gritty-underdogs-conquer-the-world story progression. In this real-life scenario, Green whips them into shape for a triumphant performance at a Zappa Festival in East Germany. Read full review
75
Rolling StonePeter Travers
You cheered Jack Black in "School of Rock," now give it up for Paul Green in the real thing. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
I'd be lying if I didn't admit that Rock School, Don Argott's amusing and spirited documentary, would seem a heck of a lot niftier if its fire hadn't already been stolen by "School of Rock." Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
Rock School celebrates music, family, hard work and, yes, Paul Green. Best of all, it shows the flexibility of children to learn and adapt -- even when their teacher is nuts. Read full review
75
New York PostLou Lumenick
A rousing, garage-band-style documentary. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Green's approach certainly opens up opportunities for his students, and is a refreshing change from the lockstep public school approach, which punishes individualism. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTy Burr
As a portrait of dysfunctional pedagogy, it's both refreshing and more than a little terrifying. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Hartlaub
Occasionally thoughtful and very entertaining. Read full review
75
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Those who appreciated "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" will probably enjoy this documentary. Read full review
75
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
Even with Paul Green's invective echoing in the back of your mind, nothing's quite so heartwarming as the sight of a young person blossoming. Read full review
70
Film ThreatJeremy Mathews
With a combination of talent and a child’s excitement and outrage for music, Green has a personality to rival Jack Black’s fictional rocker-turned-teacher from "School of Rock." Read full review
70
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
The kids are great, but when they graduate from Rock School, will the valedictorian be the next Jimmy Page, or the technically proficient lead guitarist of a Led Zeppelin cover band? Read full review
70
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
The scenes of Green lavishing affection on his charges under the closing credits go a long way to rounding out this entertaining portrait of a volatile but effective educator. Read full review
70
The New York TimesManohla Dargis
Alternately hilarious and alarming documentary. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
Since there's no evidence in the film that Green teaches his students how to compose, improvise or experiment with the music, presumably the next wave will come from somewhere else. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
And while Ivy League-educated psychologist Green considers himself a natural teacher, his teaching technique involves pitting students against each other and haranguing them with rants that run from gentle, good-natured ribbing to flat-out verbal abuse, delivered at an ego-crushing volume. Read full review
50
Village VoiceDennis Lim
Don Argott's lively documentary, ostensibly a paean to alternative pedagogy, extends its subject a long leash, and he in turn does his damnedest to sabotage the project. Rock School ends up being a movie about just how little fun rock 'n' roll can be. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyErnest Hardy
You root for the kids, who are utterly captivating, but Green is another story. His shtick -- a combo of insufferable stage-parent and unbearable rock geek -- is exhausting. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
Paul Green seems more interested in what rock school can do for him than for the kids. Read full review
30
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
Until the last 20 minutes or so of Rock School, the actual playing, while often startlingly good, is kind of boring. Read full review
More From This Movie

67 Critic Reviews

7.3 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL