I know what you're thinking: "Is Jack Black dead??!" No, he's not. I just wanted to write an article about one of my generations' saviours and most-underrated comedy actors.
Jack Black, born Thomas Jacob Black started his acting career, like many actors, with a handful of small roles. The only difference being was his small roles were in very-well known films such as the action-packed Stalone versus Snipes flick, "Demolition Man" (1993), "The Neverending Story III" (1994) and if you watch the 1995 blockbuster "Waterworld" again, keep an eye out in the "Death from Above" scene and who might that be piloting the flying rusty bucket of bolts? It's Teacious D's lead vocalist himself!
After doing himself justice alongside Giovanni Ribisi in the "X-Files" episode "D.P.O., Black finally got his big break in comedies "The Cable Guy" (1996) and Tim Burton's Sci-Fi classic "Mars Attacks" (1996). From that point on, the only way was up and between then and 2002, he starred as tech geek, Fiedler alongside Will Smith and Gene Hackman in "Enemy of the State" (1998), music-buff, Barry Judd in "High Fidelity" (2000), hilarious burnout, Lance Brumder in "Orange County" (2002), and who can forget the overweight, high-standards and shallow, Hal in 2001's Shallow Hal; a film many have described as being ahead of its time.
 |
| Hal: There's Rosemary. Mauricio: Where? Hal: Right there! Mauricio: Is she behind the Rhino? |
Up next is arguably Black's most successful role. I give you "School of Rock" (2003). His character, Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star - takes his friend Ned’s place as a substitute teacher and encourages rebellion to a bunch of kids at a strict private elementary school. At first, he gives his pupils free time, upon discovering the musical talent of the class, and decides to teach them with rock music. Not only this, but Black maintains his flamboyant humour as the rouge Dewey Finn, whilst also teaching the class the importance of body acceptance and a few more life lessons along the way (see quote below).
 |
"Give up, just quit, because in this life, you can’t win. Yeah, you can try, but in the end you’re just gonna lose, big time, because the world is run by the Man. The Man, oh, you don’t know the Man. He’s everywhere. In the White House… down the hall… Ms. Mullins, she’s the Man. And the Man ruined the ozone, he’s burning down the Amazon, and he kidnapped Shamu and put her in a chlorine tank!" - Dewey Finn
|
The success of "School of Rock" in both the US and UK sent Jack Black to A-List actor stratosphere, which would see him star in DreamWorks Animation classic, Shark Tale (2004), Peter Jackson's multiple Oscar-winning action-packed, King Kong (2005), and even his band, Tenacious D leaped from TV to the big screen with The Pick of Destiny (2006); a film inspired by their single "Tribute" from their 2002 self-titled debut album.
 |
A still from Tenacious D's music video, "Tribute"
|
Sticking with comedy, Jack starred in the hit-and-miss "Nacho Libre" (2006) and - much like the man himself - the immensely undervalued, "Tropic Thunder" (2008). Other notable roles were in the form of dud comedies, "Year One" (2009) and "Gulliver's Travels"(2010) - a film very loosely based on Part One of the 18th-century novel of the same name by Jonathan Swift. From 2008 up until now, Jack Black has mostly been associated with the Dragon Warrior Po, in the animated trilogy "Kung Fu Panda 1, 2 & 3".
 |
Jack Black as Jeff Portnoy in "Tropic Thunder"
|
 |
| "Ku Fu Panda 1, 2 & 3" included characters voiced by Jackie Chan, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, and Ian McShane |
Recently though, it's been publicised that Black has fallen out of love with acting and stated his boredom has stemmed from him constantly being typecasting as a, 'lovable loser'. Well I for one can refute that nonsense. He has been an absolute hero for me growing up in the late 90's and Noughties. And I can't wait to see what role he'll play in 2017's re-imaging of the 1995 film, "Jumanji"...
Cheers Jack.
