Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
(B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'Walk Hard' is the life story of musician, Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly). In short, he kills a person, sleeps with hundreds of women, marries several times, has 22 kids, & changes the socio-cultural course of the nation ... with his jazz-infused rock & roll songs. Along the way, he buys a chimpanzee, pals around with Elvis, & hosts his own 70's TV show. This can't be serious, can it? Well, of course not. Cleverly, the movie spoofs musical biopics such as 'Walk the Line' (Johnny Cash), 'Ray' (Ray Charles), & even gets some jabs in at Bob Dylan. This is directed by Jake Kasdan, and is produced by Judd Apatow (of this yr.'s Knocked Up & Superbad). Here, he takes a stab at it with John C. Reilly and his dependable supporting actors to provide an uneven, but often hysterical film.
We meet Dewey as a dumb Alabama boy who lives in the shadow of his 'cain't-do-no-wrong' brother. Things go terribly wrong when their play-fighting with machetes turns deadly. The horrible incident that transpires would dictate how Dewey grows up & lives the rest of his life. Never again would his dad say anything else other than, 'The wrong kid died'. This entire opening segment is comedy gold. At age 14, Dewey (already played by Reilly) leaves home with his fiancee, 12 yr. old Edith. She starts popping out babies while he dreams of becoming a rock star. Before long, Dewey has a #1 song and is touring. Sex, drugs, and rock & Roll dominate his life.
A continually funny episodic theme during the movie includes Dewey walking into a bathroom, only to see his drummer (Tim Meadows) inhaling the latest craze in drugs. Vulnerable as anything, Dewey always concedes & tries it ... which leads to lifelong addiction. His on-the-road girlfriend (and eventual wife) Darlene (a bland Jenna Fischer, though, maybe she just nailed her depiction of Reese Witherspoon's June Cash character too well) is there to try to right his path; but it's hard for Dewey to stay out of rehab for so long. It's pointless to divulge any more plot. The movie isn't about the plot. ALL things referenced here are exaggerated real life moments of Cash, Charles, Dylan, etc. ... and most of it results in spontaneous laughter on our parts.
Defying the odds, Cox succeeds at becoming a national icon (in Apatow world). Sprinkled throughout the story are a host of genius comedic standouts. Jonah Hill plays the ghost of Dewey's dead brother. Jane Lynch makes a breezy, funny appearance as a TV reporter who hasn't done her homework on Dewey's latest escapades. And look out for an appearance by the Beatles (Jack Black as Paul, Paul Rudd as John, Justin Long as George, & Jason Schwartzman as Ringo). This foursome creates one of the singular best scenes in the whole film. 'Walk Hard' is an idotic movie, but also a fun one. After all, how can you not like a song that goes, 'I'm gonna beat off ... all my demons/that's what lovin' Jesus is all about'; haha.
Dewey Cox is one big walking cliche; luckily, that's the point of the film. John C. Reilly is very capable in this schticky kind of role. Not only is he charming as the all-UNknowing Dewey, but he sings his songs very well, too (no surprise after his turn in Chicago). I do have to say, however, that most of the comedy is more intelligent than offering outright side-splitting laughter. And as the movie goes on, it becomes a bit stale in places. Though it's only 1:30 min. long, it plays like an extremely lengthy Saturday Night Live skit that 'almost' wears out its welcome. The film doesn't really go anywhere, but at least it's infinitely better than those Date Movie/Scary Movie parody flicks; that's for sure.
We meet Dewey as a dumb Alabama boy who lives in the shadow of his 'cain't-do-no-wrong' brother. Things go terribly wrong when their play-fighting with machetes turns deadly. The horrible incident that transpires would dictate how Dewey grows up & lives the rest of his life. Never again would his dad say anything else other than, 'The wrong kid died'. This entire opening segment is comedy gold. At age 14, Dewey (already played by Reilly) leaves home with his fiancee, 12 yr. old Edith. She starts popping out babies while he dreams of becoming a rock star. Before long, Dewey has a #1 song and is touring. Sex, drugs, and rock & Roll dominate his life.
A continually funny episodic theme during the movie includes Dewey walking into a bathroom, only to see his drummer (Tim Meadows) inhaling the latest craze in drugs. Vulnerable as anything, Dewey always concedes & tries it ... which leads to lifelong addiction. His on-the-road girlfriend (and eventual wife) Darlene (a bland Jenna Fischer, though, maybe she just nailed her depiction of Reese Witherspoon's June Cash character too well) is there to try to right his path; but it's hard for Dewey to stay out of rehab for so long. It's pointless to divulge any more plot. The movie isn't about the plot. ALL things referenced here are exaggerated real life moments of Cash, Charles, Dylan, etc. ... and most of it results in spontaneous laughter on our parts.
Defying the odds, Cox succeeds at becoming a national icon (in Apatow world). Sprinkled throughout the story are a host of genius comedic standouts. Jonah Hill plays the ghost of Dewey's dead brother. Jane Lynch makes a breezy, funny appearance as a TV reporter who hasn't done her homework on Dewey's latest escapades. And look out for an appearance by the Beatles (Jack Black as Paul, Paul Rudd as John, Justin Long as George, & Jason Schwartzman as Ringo). This foursome creates one of the singular best scenes in the whole film. 'Walk Hard' is an idotic movie, but also a fun one. After all, how can you not like a song that goes, 'I'm gonna beat off ... all my demons/that's what lovin' Jesus is all about'; haha.
Dewey Cox is one big walking cliche; luckily, that's the point of the film. John C. Reilly is very capable in this schticky kind of role. Not only is he charming as the all-UNknowing Dewey, but he sings his songs very well, too (no surprise after his turn in Chicago). I do have to say, however, that most of the comedy is more intelligent than offering outright side-splitting laughter. And as the movie goes on, it becomes a bit stale in places. Though it's only 1:30 min. long, it plays like an extremely lengthy Saturday Night Live skit that 'almost' wears out its welcome. The film doesn't really go anywhere, but at least it's infinitely better than those Date Movie/Scary Movie parody flicks; that's for sure.