The Rocker Movie Review
Rainn Wilson's new comedy is like a bad cover song.
by Jim Vejvoda
August 20, 2008 - The Rocker follows drummer Robert "Fish" Fishman (Rainn Wilson) who is cast out from the 1980s glam rock band Vesuvius and spends the next twenty years schlepping his way through life and embittered by his abrupt and heartbreaking firing. As Vesuvius enjoys Bon Jovi/Aerosmith-like multi-decade success, Fish toils away as a call center rep in the Midwest.
Fired from his job and dumped by his girlfriend (Jane Krakowski in a cameo), Fish finds himself living in his reluctant sister's (Jane Lynch) attic in Cleveland. His portly teenage nephew Matt (Josh Gad) plays keyboard in a band named A.D.D., along with classmates Curtis (singer-songwriter Teddy Geiger) and Amelia (Superbad's Emma Stone). In desperate need of a drummer for the school concert, Matt convinces Curtis and Amelia to give his uncle Fish a chance.
Still trapped in his gaudily-clad, arena rock days, Fish screws up just enough that he then has to try and make things right with the band. In no time, he's teaching these kids the ropes of being a rocker as they take their act on the road and gain national notoriety thanks to the Internet. But will Fish -- who soon finds himself falling for Curtis' mom (Christina Applegate) -- again suffer humiliation and rejection from his bandmates once the big time calls?
While it's an amiable enough piece of fluff, The Rocker is such a slave to formula and covers so much well-trod ground that it's like listening to a needless cover song. Sure, it's familiar enough that you kinda sorta enjoy it, but when it's over you think, "Haven't I already heard this done before and better?" The Rocker is a pastiche of feel-good genres -- equal parts rock 'n roll movie, mentor story, '80s send-up, and "follow your dream" inspirational fare -- that never quite succeeds in any one category.
We have the screw-up protagonist who needs to overcome his past/prove himself/find someplace to belong. There's the young musician in need of a mentor to inspire confidence, and when stardom is at hand to remind him of what truly matters. There's the love interest that's right in front of the oblivious character the whole time, as well as the female lead who inexplicably falls for the far less attractive social misfit male lead. Don't forget the sleazy producer-manager, or the big finale where the young heroes finally get the chance to prove something to their toughest audience: themselves.
You know exactly where the story's headed from the beginning, making the set-ups and payoffs to the jokes and the relationships too obvious. While the cast has chemistry together overall, the relationship between Wilson and Applegate is too thin and underdeveloped to care much about. They're like the sitcom couple cliché of the schlubby hubby and hot wife. Teddy Geiger effectively broods and emotes as the fledgling pop star, but the real scene stealer is Josh Gad (who nevertheless comes across as the poor man's Jonah Hill). Genre regulars Jason Sudeikis, Jane Lynch, Fred Armisen and Bradley Cooper all pop up here, while the ubiquitous Will Arnett continues to make small but showy appearances in other people's mediocre starring vehicles.
Rainn Wilson may have been striving for a big-screen breakthrough a la Jack Black in The School of Rock, but it's not to be had here. He delivers a one-note performance that's only highlighted by a few scattered moments of physical comedy. Cross Jack Black's manic schtick with Will Ferrell's penchant for cringe-inducing nudity and you have Rainn Wilson in this movie. Once again, we've seen it all done before and better.
The Rocker Movie opens up Wednesday Aug 14
The House Bunny Movie | The Longshots Movie | Death Race Movie
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
How Did Bernie Mac Die? Bernie Mac Not Dead? Bernie Mac Cause of Death
How did Bernie Mac Die? It is a sad day today, as comedian and actor Burny Mac passed today? How did he die? From most of the articles I have read, Bernie Max seems to have died from complications due to pneumonia.
There are other articles out there that are saying that Bernie Mac is not dead, but it has been confirmed, and all the major news sites are reporting and confirming his death.
Again, The Bernie Mac cause of death seems to be complications of pneumonia, and at 50, it is sad that we have lost one of our edgy comedians.
Rest in peace, Bernie Mac. You died too muthafuckin' young.
Comedic actor Bernie Mac dies.
Shocking News King of Comedy Bernie Mac passed away. RIP.
Actor/Comedian Bernie Mac Dies at 50
Bernie Mac, the comedian and actor who appeared in Transformers, the Ocean's Eleven films and his own Peabody Award-winning sitcom The Bernie Mac Show, died Saturday. He was 50. Mac died of complications due to pneumonia, his publicist ...
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Bernie Mac has died. Bernie Mac most recently seen at a Obam campaign event and King of Comedy has died at 50-years old. Known for his tv show based on his own life as caretaker of his sister's kids. .
Actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50
A publicist says Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor and comedian Bernie Mac has died at age 50.
CHICAGO — DEVELOPING STORY:Bernie Mac's publicist says the actor and comedian has died. He was 50 years old.Mac was recovering from pneumonia at the time of his death.
Comedian Bernie Mac dies aged 50
He was admitted to hospital last week and died early on Saturday morning due to complications arising from pneumonia, his publicist said.Terrible news :(
Actor and Comdian Bernie Mac Dies at 50
This story reports breaking news and will be updated as more information becomes available. Bernie Mac has apparently died today due to complications from pneumonia.
Bernie Mac died early Saturday morning at the age of 50. His rep said in a statement, “Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago-area hospital.” “No other details are available ...
Actor/Comedian Bernie Mac Dies @ age 50
Comedian Bernie Mac died this morning at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial hospital at 50 years old. His publicist released this statement this morning: “Actor/ comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to ...
On August 9, 2008 it was reported by the Chicago Sun-Times that Bernie Mac had died due to complications from his condition: 'Comedian Bernie Mac died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital early Saturday morning, according to Sun-Times ...
Sad to report that Bernie Mac has passed away. A publicist says Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor and comedian Bernie Mack has died at age 50. Publicist Danica Smith says Bernie Mac died early Saturday at a hospital in the Chicago ...
CHICAGO (AP) _ Bernie Mac, the actor and comedian who teamed up in the casino heist caper 'Ocean's Eleven' and gained a prestigious Peabody Award for his sitcom 'The Bernie Mac Show,' died Saturday at age 50.
There were many great movies that Bernie Mac was in, some of the best were his roles in The Ocean Eleven movies, and his role in the Charlies Angels movies. But he may be best known for his appearances in his local hit com.
his Saturday morning was not filled with happy news. While America is battling for gold in Beijing, Bernie Mac has lost his battle with pneumonia. Bernard Jeffrey McCullough was just 50 years old.“Actor/ comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital. No other details are available at this time. We ask that his family’s privacy continues to be respected.”Bernie starred in his Fox tv series “The Bernie Mac Show” which he trumped with his involvement with the “Ocean’s 11” movies and “Guess Who” with Ashton Kutcher. We have lost another wonderful soul and we send our condolences to his friends and family. [Gone Hollywood]
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