The Rocker (2008)
In the 1980s, a drummer is abandoned by his band just before they become rock superstars. Twenty years later, the drummer sees his second chance at stardom arise when he is asked to perform with his teenage nephew's high school rock band.
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Excellent but underrated film
After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.
I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
After a bit of worrying that this would be one more stereotype about midlife crisis and/ or teen ansgst... turns into Clever Comedy with funny laughs memorable scenes and motivation to maybe even try something new
On paper this doesn't look promising. Failed aging rocker gets second chance via his his school nephew. All sounds a tad lame however despite this, The Rocker ends up being entertaining and at times funny. A lot of the charm of the film is down to one man. Rainn Wilson ( he of The Office fame). There is something about Wilson that just makes you watch. It's not even that he plays likable characters but there is something about him that is fascinating. Put say Jack Black in this role and I'm pretty sure the results would be far less desirable. Add in the gorgeous and very talented Emma Stone and really there isn't a lot to hate about this film. Yes in parts it's fairly predictable but it's always enjoyable as the downtrodden Wilson finally gets his shot at the big time. If you are in the mood for some silly but entertaining fun then this is the film for you.
This movie is everything that's bad about 21st century comedies. It stars an extremely ugly actor with a poor physique who spends a lot of time in his underwear and in one scene even appears naked. I call it "Will Ferrell Humor" where the antics of an ugly loser are supposed to be funny. The main character is just so unattractive, and this is supposed to be funny.It's not funny.In the beginning the ugly loser is a drummer in a rock band on the cusp of popular and financial success. The only problem is that a record company executive won't give them the contract unless the drummer is replaced by a relative. So the band dumps the ugly loser and becomes super famous. The ugly loser spends the next two decades being a loser. Then he joins another band. And somehow we're supposed to believe that Christina Applegate is the main character's love interest.It's not funny. It's stupid. And the music stinks too.Don't waste your time.
Overall, I liked The Rocker, it had a decent comedy story line, and Rainn Wilson's starring role as a has been (before he was ever a star) rocker had its good moments. I especially liked one scene when he staged his comeback after a 20 year absence from the music industry. While practising with his new band and trying to understand how a web cam works he was sitting in his garage buck naked and mucking around with the web cam but he had no clue his drum sequence while being buck naked was going viral.Now he meets up with his old rock band who abandoned him 20 years earlier for their own fame and fortune. His old band members include SNL alumni Will Arnett,and Fred Armisen, and a wild looking Bradley Cooper. You just know that at some time in the movie there would have to be a showdown between Rainn Wilson's former band who are now rock legends and Rainn's new band who have a great songwriter and lead singer in Teddy Geiger. Teddy Geiger's road trip mom is played admirably by Christina Applegate.This movie reminded me of some of Adam Sandler's similar type movies. A story line with a bit of romance (the romantic interest played sincerely by Christina Applegate) the sad sack (Rainn Wilson) and the blossoming friendship between two of his new band mates, Emma Stone and Teddy Geiger.The movie is very light, and worth a watch, but it is nothing memorable either.