While the Minecraft movie's box office win looks set to ensure that Jack Black will stay a family movie star.

Jack Black's career began in comedy, and his band Tenacious D was formed in the mid 1990s with his actor friend Kyle Gass. The rock duo's songs were decidedly not family-friendly, but it made the band popular. Tenacious D's success won them a TV series and a musical fantasy comedy movie, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. Tenacious D is currently on hiatus, but Jack Black's career does not appear to have suffered.

Jack Black Somehow Went From Tenacious D To Family Blockbusters, And I'm Still Baffled By That

The Music Video For His Infamous Tenacious D Song Was Adult, But Surprisingly Positive

Tenacious D blended R-rated stand-up comedy with rock music, with their gigs showing off Jack Black's high-energy brand of humor. Jack Black then brought this signature style to School of Rock, which is arguably his family breakout movie. While it seems baffling that a person with such a clear brand could become a family movie star, it may not be so surprising considering the reason for Jack Black's success. This relentless energy and natural charm is exactly what can help a family movie star to succeed. That said, one two-minute song by Tenacious D has a truly adult music video.

Jack Black and Kyle Gass, in animated cherub form, arrive to explain to the devil the importance of good bedroom etiquette.

Tenacious D's most famous song is arguably "F**k Her Gently" from the band's first album, and the song had a controversial animated music video. Jack Black and Kyle Gass, in animated cherub form, arrive to explain to the devil the importance of good bedroom etiquette, before giving a very graphic demonstration. The video had a surprisingly wholesome and anti-adult movie message, with Jack Black explaining to Blender, "the girls are pretending to enjoy it because they're getting paid. That’s a bad message being sent to kids ... And this is our way of counteracting it."

Jack Black's Career Transition Was So Gradual, It Took A While To Actually Notice

It Is Unlikely That Tenacious D Will Make A Movie Sequel

Jack Black blended his enthusiasm for rock music with his childlike energy when he starred in School of Rock, which has a 92% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. School of Rock is still one of Jack Black's favorite movies, and while it included some jokes that many children wouldn't understand, it opened the door to greater roles in other family movies. As Jack Black also starred in less child-friendly movies at the same time, like the controversial Tropic Thunder, the transition felt very gradual. By the time he appeared in Jumanji, he was mostly appearing in family movies.

As Jack Black's career as a family movie star is currently so successful, it is unlikely that he will take on any major projects relating to Tenacious D in the near future. While the band still has a ionate fanbase and extended their tour in 2022, it does not look as though a Tenacious D movie sequel will be on the cards soon. That said, it could be argued that Jack Black's role in Tenacious D helped to set up the style that he has become known for, leading to his career break in family movies.

Source: Blender