The Rocker Review

Posted by Chad Webb on 08.28.2008

Are you ready to rock? I’m not sure I am after watching this.

Rainn Wilson: Robert "Fish" Fishman
Christina Applegate: Kim
Teddy Geiger: Curtis
Josh Gad: Matt Gadman
Emma Stone: Amelia
Jeff Garlin: Stan
Jane Lynch: Lisa
Jason Sudeikis: David Marshall
Will Arnett: Lex
Howard Hesseman: Gator
Directed By: Peter Cattaneo
Written By: Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky
Release Date: August 20, 2008
Running Time: 102 minutes







Rated PG-13 for drug and sexual references, nudity and language.

With so many comical actors stepping up to the plate and throwing their hats into the ring, like Mike Myers and Will Ferrell, who says Rainn Wilson can't have a piece of the cake too. With such a successful and memorable character in the U.S. version of The Office, he has now decided to elevate his game to comedy vehicles. His new film, The Rocker, reminds me of a Dr. Dre song I heard years ago called "Been There, Done That." The premise is certainly not fresh, but it is entertaining, and provides a handful of pleasant moments. Regardless, the 13th place debut at the box office says that moviegoers might not be ready to accept Wilson as a movie star.

In the 1980's, drummer Robert "Fish" Fishman (Rainn Wilson) was a member of the heavy metal hair band Vesuvius. When the group looks to have landed a record contract, their manager informs them it must be without Fish. While reluctant at first, the bandmates cannot let the opportunity slip by, so they abandon their friend. They become an enormous sensation, and Fish is forced to work at a call center for money. His bitterness remains with him for 20 years, and sizzles whenever anyone mentions the name "Vesuvius." Upon losing his job, he moves in with his sister Lisa (Jane Lynch), and is presented with a chance be a drummer once more. His nephew Matt (Josh Gad) is the keyboardist of a high school group A.D.D. They need a drummer for a prom gig, and Fish is the last hope. He establishes chemistry with the other members, the bassist Amelia (Emma Stone), and the guitarist/singer/songwriter Curtis (Teddy Geiger), but goes a tad overboard at the prom, which ends in disaster. Just when they all think the band and their reputations will forever be doomed, an odd YouTube video gives A.D.D. a chance at stardom.

Rainn Wilson has proven to be a genuinely amusing man. Everything about him says funny from his demeanor to his overall appearance. He's like my former college roommate. Wherever he went, and whatever he did was usually met with smiles and laughter because he was always reliable at providing humor. That being said, The Rocker was a poor choice for his first starring comedy role. After a few solid supporting roles in Juno, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, and even a superb stint on the show Entourage, he tackles a script that obviously prompted critics to cite Jack Black School of Rock and This is Spinal Tap references. Both are superior films, and if Wilson really wanted to make an impression, he should have known better, and picked more original material. He does possess the qualities of a comedic lead, but his strong suits are better represented as smaller characters.

As Robert Fishman, Wilson plays the aging drummer as one might expect. He utilizes a combination of styles like slapstick and deadpan, with shades of Dwight Schrute. Wilson's versatility in this genre is impressive, but he can only carry us so far before we realize that the plot is as thin as a sheet of Dunder Mifflin paper. The most hilarious instances occur when Fishman is drumming. Wilson's subtle expressions and mannerisms are terrific. At the other end of the spectrum, the beginning of the film had a ridiculously stupid chase sequence as Fishman runs down the van his bandmates escaped in after they received a record deal and ditched him. Nevertheless, Wilson exaggerates most of the gags and dialogue just enough so that the actions of this "rocker" are believable at his age.

The young cast behind Wilson is surprisingly engaging, and actually supplies an ample amount of laughs and many of the heartwarming scenes. Josh Gad is an aspiring talent, who did well in 21 and the Direct-to-DVD film Watching the Detectives, but unless he digs himself out of the poor man's Jonah Hill role, his career will be over before it starts. Still, he is a capable actor, and his relationship with his Uncle and the bassist Amelia make for The Rocker's only creative substance. Emma Stone is best remembered by casual viewers as "that girl from Superbad", but she has unlimited potential. She fleshes out her simple character and puts forth 110%. Teddy Geiger is Curtis, the singer/songwriter loaded with angst and a notebook full of lyrics. Geiger is a musician in real life, so this is familiar territory for him. His performance is commendable as long as he doesn't have to get overly serious. For you gossip hounds, he is dating Emma Stone.

Christina Applegate is the conveniently attractive mother of Curtis. Luckily the romance angles in The Rocker never enter cheeseland. Applegate and Wilson have a nice rapport, and thankfully she is just a straightforward grown-up, and not someone competing with Wilson for jokes. Also hysterical are Will Arnett (Arrested Development) as the lead singer of Vesuvius, Howard Hesseman (WKRP in Cincinnati) as the bus driver Gator, and Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm) as Fishman’s helpful brother-in-law.

This is not the return to mainstream fare one would foresee from a two-time Oscar nominated filmmaker. Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) is a consummate director, but he was too busy aiming for giggles via Wilson, rather than polishing the story, or spreading the screen time to Stone, Gad, and Geiger. For example, Fishman is seen ripping off sweaty shirts, and running around in his underwear on more than one occasion. Do they really need to imitate Ferrell’s shtick? Cattaneo displays controlled camera work, but the predictability of the screenplay overshadows that. Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky express intelligence in crafting a charming and sweet tale, but they forgot to add some meat to the bone.

A weak premise and a bland title wound the dedication and spirit this cast reveals in every scene. The music is a decidedly mediocre lampoon of pop in the vein of Hanson or The Jonas Brothers. It is “tolerable” and nothing more, which is disappointing. However, I was aching for more Vesuvius, which can be downloaded to the Rock Band video game. At best, this will make up some lost ground as a rental, but even then it will strike a passerby as a second-rate School of Rock. Even with the moronic vomit gag, The Rocker deserves a “close, but no cigar” rating.

The 411: I left the theater relatively satisfied, but the unoriginal script just kept creeping back at me. Rainn Wilson needs to spend more time honing his own comedy skills that brought him to the dance, rather than copying Will Ferrell or Jack Black. The Rocker makes a barely recommended rental if only for some brief laughs and a enjoyable storyline. You won’t go out of your way to praise it to friends, but it can pass the time. I also have a feeling it is destined for the Wal-Mart $5 bin.

Final Score:  6.5   [ Average ]