An education in comedy

School of Rock

Jack Black, Joan Cusack

Paramount, $30

It seems a little incongruous to describe any movie starring the out-of-control, rotund rocker Black as “sweet.” But thanks to a clever script by co-star Mike White and steady direction from Richard Linklater, this rock ‘n’ roll variation of “The Pied Piper” and “The Music Man” is joyously adorable. Black plays Dewey Finn, the ultimate slacker who dreams of rock fame. After he’s kicked out of his band for being an obnoxious grandstander, he fibs his way into becoming a substitute teacher at a posh private elementary school. At first, he doesn’t know what to do with his little charges. But when he learns they are talented musicians, he decides to turn them into his new rock band.

The zippy digital edition features a video diary of the movie’s talented kids as they attend the Toronto Film Festival, a better-than-average documentary, an installment of “MTV’s Diary” with Black, sweet commentary from the child actors and a commentary track with motor-mouth Black and low-key Linklater.

*

Looney Tunes -- Back in Action

Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman

Warner Bros., $28

One of the problems with this disappointing live-action animated spy comedy is that the beloved cartoon superstars, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, have become thoroughly obnoxious in the 21st century. Part of their charm has been that they are wiseacres, but in this Joe Dante-directed film the duo just don’t know when to shut up. Adding insult to injury, most of their wisecracks fall flat. On the human side of the film, there is no chemistry between stars Fraser and Elfman.

The DVD is basically for the kids. There’s a rather lifeless Looney Tunes short, “Whizzard of Ow”; a montage of alternate endings; Bugs and Daffy’s tour of the set; and a look at the special effects. The DVD-ROM includes more deleted scenes (including the superior original opening) and games.

Cold Creek Manor

Dennis Quaid, Sharon Stone

Touchstone, $30

Director Mike Figgis has made some good movies over the years (“Stormy Monday,” “Leaving Las Vegas,” “Time Code”), but this half-baked thriller certainly isn’t one of them. Quaid plays a documentary filmmaker who moves his family (wife Stone and two children) out of New York City and into a run-down mansion in the country. The former owner, an ex-con (Stephen Dorff), wants Quaid and his family to vacate the premises.

Extras include a couple of production featurettes, deleted scenes and an alternate ending, plus commentary from Figgis.