Cool News
Capone's rocks are not rocked by THE ROCKER!!
Greetings everyone. Capone in Chicago here.
Damn, I really wanted to like this movie more, but in the end, this Rainn Wilson-starring work feels like it's pandering to a younger and far less demanding audience. It's almost not fair to compare this very PG-13-rated story of former '80s rock band drummer Robert "Fish" Fishman to some of the superior R-rated work that's been gracing us this August (a couple of which also came out today), and there are some laughs with THE ROCKER, without a doubt. But so much of it is obvious and lowbrow, and frankly I expect a little more from Wilson, who has been consistently good as Dwight on "The Office." Here, he thinks simply getting insanely sweaty and walking around in various stages of undress passes for comedy (is it any wonder that THE FULL MONTY director Peter Cattaneo helms this movie?). I guess it does the first six or seven times, but this film wore me down and eventually out.
Some of the best material here comes in the opening few minutes when we see Fish drumming for his original band (featuring some great cameos I won't ruin here) and getting unceremoniously kicked out just as the group signs a major record deal. He's spent 20 years working dull office jobs while the band grew in popularity. Fish seethes about this every day of his life. When Fish asks his sister (Jane Lynch) and brother-in-law (Jeff Garlin) if he can stay with them for a little bit, he comes into contact with his high school-age nephew (21's Josh Gad), who happens to have a band in need of a drummer. The other band members include real-life singer Teddy Geiger and SUPERBAD's Emma Stone, who also appears in this week's The House Bunny. Eventually they convince Uncle Fish to join the band, and he teaches them to go from a cute little pop band to a rockin' force of nature. A record promoter (Jason Sudeikis, maybe the most consistently funny performer in this movie) convinces the group to hit the road (with parents' permission, of course). One of the parents in question is played by Christina Applegate, who Fish takes an instant liking to. While I find Applegate attractive, the filmmakers give her nothing to really do or contribute to this story. As a result, any scenes that include her are rendered instantly boring and useless.
I guess I'm happy to see Wilson stretch himself as an actor somewhat. Fish will never be mistaken for Dwight, and I applaud him for trying something different. But the hard, cold truth is that the film just isn't that funny. That being said, I've seen the film twice (once with all critics and once with a human audience), and the second time, the audience seemed to love it. So if you are looking for a family-friendly crowd pleaser, you could do worse, especially in today's minefield of R-rated comedies. I just wish something more had clicked for me, whether it was the humor or the music or the romance. I was looking for an in, and never really found one that fully satisfied me. If you consider yourself someone with discerning tastes, you may not dig THE ROCKER. If you're easier to please, you should be golden.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
-
+ Expand All
-
It's still perfectly easy to make a funny PG-13 film. Just because a lot of the funniest films of the last few years were R doesn't mean you can't. Also, apropos of nothing, I thought Wedding Crashers sucked.
-
It doesn't look very good.
-
lame...will not be seeing this, after step bros. pineapple express and tropic thunder this thing ain't got a shot with me, love the office though!
-
fourth again
-
I guess I consider myself somebody with "discerning tastes" and therefore would rather watch The House Bunny. Bummed to hear about Christina Applegate though. But at least she's getting new cans.
-
I was given a free pass to go see a preview of this a couple months ago. Then, I heard the music in the trailer ... and ripped that pass to shreds. If you're gonna call the movie 'The Rocker,' it had damn well better ROCK, and not sound like some Disney-fied tweener pap. Damn it.
-
Funny, but ultimately a little too creepy to carry a movie.
-
CAN WE GET JONAH HILL?NO WE CAN GET THE FAT KID FROM 21 THAT LOOKS AND ACTS JUST LIKE HIM.GREAT!WE CAN ALSO GET JONAH HILL'S LOVE INTREST IN SUPERBAD!EXCELLENT!!!
-
"but this film wore me down and eventually out." You're still recommending it after that quote? WTF? Make a freakin' decision, Capone, or take an English composition class.
-
after the highly suspicious review of The House Bunny. There is no fucking way that movie isn't just a comedy abortion. Internal affairs will be investigating Officer Capone for corruption based solely on that review.
-
Yeah, Kevin Smith was on the Kevin & Bean morning radio show on KROQ in LA this morning. He said he saw a movie early that he cannot talk about. When the hosts asked him if the stars of the movie happen to trek about, he mentioned that they in fact do trek about in the movie. The movie that he could not talk about where the stars trek was apparently spectacular, and the main star (read: Kirk) is going to be huge accoding to Smith. All I got to say is boo-fuckin-yaaaa!!!! That's what I'm talkin about.
-
Aug 22, 2008 12:24:31 PM CDT
Lamerz, Kevin Smith also liked the prequel trilogy.
by stereotypical evil archer
-
Typical TV fodder: people bumping or falling in every shot. Christ you marketing morons, do your job!
-
cause she's very attractive and this one is decent. Not great, Josh Gad sucks, but you get a few laughs in there and the performances are generally good and it's fairly breezy. It manages to succeed in spite of itself.
-
With respect, no, RW isn't creepy.
I liked The Rocker because the movie was not just funny, but had a good bit of heart to it too. Everyone was good. The Josh kid from 21 was playing straight man to Wilson, what do you want from him? The movie had a lot of great little moments, and I thought Rainn carried it just fine. Thumbs up from me.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 325 total posts 322 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 106 total posts 106 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 63 total posts 60 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 74 total posts 58 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 159 total posts 51 posts
- If the Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day drops her pen, pick it up, but don’t look at her legs or else it will be on your record. -- 47 total posts 41 posts
- AVENGERS enemy revealed as pink boardgame pieces... You might suffer some form of elation... SPOILERS!!! -- 161 total posts 34 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 488 total posts 33 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 121 total posts 23 posts
- Here's The Red Band Trailer For Drafthouse Films' THE FP! -- 70 total posts 20 posts