So here's the deal. Jack Black rules. He's so awesome, in fact, that many people who think they're cool will refer to their love of Jack Black as proof of their coolness. (I'm not one of those people. Everyone knows I'm not cool. Vague cultural references to robust hilarious men won't help me.) He's an actor most usually. But he's also in a band called Tenacious D that started out as a fictional band who sucked but thought they were the greatest rock band in the world (see reruns of Tenacious D on any one of the HBO's if you're lucky or look for them on reruns of Mr. Show w/ Bob and David on HBO Comedy most week nights). Since then however, long after the show's gone into perpetual reruns and the joke should have faded away, Tenacious D are still building a legion of devoted fans who really do think they rock. I happen to be one of them. What can I say? Sometimes you follow your heart. Sometimes your heart lets a fart.

Anyway, here's how a joke band composed entirely of balding fat men has managed to conquer the hearts and minds of millions. Jack Black can actually sing. Also, by sheer and utter determination alone, both Jack Black (JB) and Kyle Gass (KG) really are a couple of sexy mofo's. It's that mysterious thing that happens when someone picks up a guitar and sings like their life depends on it. Proof once again that talent and confidence can usurp physical imperfections at every turn. If Tenacious D didn't actually rock the house, the joke would have gotten real old real quick. Because they do, they've parlayed their gig on HBO into a full blown stage show (usually performed in and around LA) and are currently working on an honest to god album that may have already been released by the time you read this.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon? Um, yeah, no. Trey Parker and Matt Stone? Well, maybe. But I'll take JB and KG any day. They're wicked cool.

Besides this band thing that has developed a veritable brigade of ravenous cult followers, Jack Black is also a movie guy. And good freaking god he's been in some doozies. Highlights (by which I mean lowlights) include:

• Bio-Dome - the birth place of Tenacious D by the way and, although I may go straight to hell for saying this, it's a Pauly Shore flick and to me, that automatically makes it suck.
• Airborne - a hilarious roller blading movie that also contains some shockingly embarrassing early footage of Seth Green doing some sort of fashion show. I'd explain it if I could, but I still can't stop laughing every time I think about it.
• Waterworld - which I've never seen but can't believe that every single person I know who's seen it could be wrong. It's apparently very very very bad.

However, Jack Black has always brought, if not a spellbinding performance, at least a lot of welcome energy to his work which makes his appearances in these films a relief from the rest of the crap going on around him. Again, cool.

Lately, he's found his way into a few actually decent films. Most notable among them is High Fidelity playing super snobby record sales dude Barry. Many critics said this was going to be his break out, big time, arrival into the cool crowd role. Clearly these critics didn't realize JB IS the cool crowd, but I digress. All I know is that even with my borderline scary obsession with John Cusack, I was actually far more psyched to see High Fidelity because I knew JB was in it. No kidding. I've heard many people say that they found him to be the best thing about the flick and, besides the awesome soundtrack, I'm going to have to agree with them, much to my own chagrin. When I went to see Jesus' Son, which I didn't even know he was in until he showed up, I actually threw my hands in the air and let out an uncontrolled "woo hoo!" when Jack Black first appeared on screen. Coming up this year he'll be featured in Ron, Ronnie, Run: The Ronnie Dobbs Story. If you're at all familiar with Mr. Show (mentioned above) you understand why this is going to kick your ass down the block and back.

What many articles I've read about JB have failed to mention however is the obvious John Cusack/Tim Robbins connection that Jack Black has going. He made his feature film debut in Bob Roberts (see our review of Tapeheads for explanation of why this is interesting) and has since gone on to make appearances in Dead Man Walking (directed by Tim Robbins) and Cradle Will Rock (also directed by Robbins, starring TR's old pal John Cusack). Of course all three of them make appearances in High Fidelity as well. Coincidence? I think not. How cool is that? (Side note: Kyle Gass, the other 1/2 of Tenacious D also appeared in Cradle Will Rock and made his debut in Jacob's Ladder starring, you guessed it, Tim Robbins. He's also in The Cable Guy as is Jack Black. So really, you may want to deny the D, but they are everywhere and some day soon will charm you into loving them too.)

Generally Jack Black plays weirdoes but he brings to the weirdo genre his own unique blend of spazmacation and frivolity. I personally adore him because of his unbounded confidence in his own talent. Whether this confidence is for show (a la professional wrestling) or because he actually knows he's got it goin' on, it's definitely endearing and often hilarious. Plus, it's always a pleasant surprise when somebody you wouldn't suspect opens up a can of whoop ass and belts out tunes with amazing deftness (that's DEFTNESS, not deafness). He could easily be the lead singer for Cool and the Gang (because of their name, not because he actually sounds like the lead singer of Cool and the Gang. Must I spell out all of my hard to understand metaphors for you people?!?)

In short (ahem), I love Jack Black because he's pure talent packed into a combustible, oft under appreciated package on the verge of slamming his way into the big time. I for one also wait in breathless anticipation of Tenacious D's global domination.

NOTE: TENACIOUS D'S SELF TITLED DEBUT ALBUM HITS STORES SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2001 AND IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON LINE AT WWW.TENACIOUSD.NET BE WARNED: THEY BOTH HAVE POTTY MOUTHS AND SING A LOT ABOUT OOGY SEX STUFF.