Review: "The Rocker"

Seen on: August 21, 2008

The players: Director: Peter Cattaneo, Writers: Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky, Cast: Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jeff Garlin, Josh Gad, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis

Facts of interest: Cattaneo also directed "The Full Monty."

The plot: A failed drummer gets a second chance at fame when he's asked to join his nephew's high school band.

Our quick thoughts: Who ever thought Dwight Schrute had it in him to rock the stage? In Peter Cattaneo’s mildly entertaining comedy “The Rocker,” Rainn Wilson from NBC’s hit series “The Office” cuts loose in the role of Robert “Fish” Fishman, an enthusiastic drummer who slips into a deep crisis when he’s kicked out of his own rock band.

Twenty harsh years later, Fish finally gets a second chance at fame when his nephew Matt (Josh Gad) asks him to play the drums in his high school band. But what was originally supposed to be a one-time thing quickly develops into a life-changing adventure, with Fish trying to revive his past and reach his glory by leading the young band to the top of the charts.

While “The Rocker” may not be the worst comedy we’ve seen so far this year, it’s however more than likely the most predictable one. Bearing strong resemblance to the central plot of the far superior “The School of Rock,” the movie lacks the kind of original story that lets cinemagoers experience something they haven’t seen yet. It’s the same old stuff rehashed all over again.

Indeed, the script by Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky lacks surprises. Don’t waste your time hoping for something you won’t see. There’s absolutely no need to wonder whether Fish’s addition to his nephew’s band will eventually propel them into success. Or whether Fish will finally get over what happened to him 20 years earlier. The direction the flick is taking is obvious from the start, and you’ll know how it ends before the band even takes the stage. 

However, the biggest problem of the film is that it’s quite simply not funny enough. Some of the jokes fly, but most of them don’t, and I remember I barely laughed during the whole 102 minutes. Some of the characters occasionally deliver a catchy one-liner, but that’s as good as the dialogue gets. The material is decent enough for a few giggles, but don’t walk into this film expecting to fall over laughing.

Despite the absence of solid humor, I have to admit I still found the plot to be sufficiently entertaining. It may sound a little contradicting at first, but it’s not unusual to occasionally come across a movie that manages to build a solid pace despite a complete lack of innovation. “The Rocker” certainly fits that description well, and while it’s not necessarily what I would call an entertainment gold mine, chances still are it won’t bore you to death.

Responsible for the plot’s steady pace is no other than frontman Rainn Wilson, who injects his character with incredible energy. I understand there’s only so much an actor can do with a shallow script, but Wilson delivers quite an authentic performance as eccentric rocker who likes to destroy hotel rooms ad gets a kick out of being arrested. The man definitely belongs into comedy.

Alas, with Wilson stealing the show, there’s not much room left for his supporting cast to stand out. Performances by Josh Gad, Teddy Geiger, Christina Applegate and Emma Stone go unnoticed, while Will Arnett, Bradley Cooper and Lonny Ross deliver some hysterical lines as Fish’s bitter rivals. The man with some of the film’s weirdest one-liners is Jason Sudeikis, who plays the pic’s hyperactive but hilarious studio executive.

Freaky quote: “You don't ask your parents for permission to rock!" – Rainn Wilson

The final word: As hard as Wilson tries to save the show from breaking apart in the end, he ultimately fails to resist the film’s incredibly predictable script and turn “The Rocker” into a memorable comedy. Peter Cattaneo also directed the fabulous British comedy “The Full Monty,” but here he does very little to boost the quality of the film. I suggest you skip this one and wait for the return of “The Office” instead.         

Article by Franck Tabouring

Comments

[radrod]

The most frustrating part about this entire film is the shitty so called comedic acting by the female actors, followed by having f*ckin Nicole Arbour who's comedic career is most likely to surpass that of the star of this movie play the random skank at their first gig.

She should have played the role Emma Stone did, it would have saved the film.