Rainn Wilson as Robert "Fish" Fishman, a drummer looking to reclaim his "mojo" in his nephew's band in "The Rocker", which is directed by Peter Cattaneo. The film opened across the U.S. and Canada today. (Photo: George Kraychyk/20th Century Fox)
THE POPCORN REEL FILM REVIEW/"The Rocker"
Don't Shoot Him, He's Only The Middle-Aged Drummer Looking For Love And Respect
By
Omar P.L. Moore/August 20, 2008
Worthy of a better release date than dog-days-of-August territory, "The Rocker", which opened across the U.S. and Canada today, is still the perfect summer alternative to the more bombastic blockbuster fare currently in theaters. Peter Cattaneo directs this comedy with aplomb and Rainn Wilson, who plays Robert "Fish" Fishman, a former band drummer in mid-life crisis, does the rest. A.D.D. (attention deficit disorder for those not in the know) is a rock band that is searching for a drummer, and Fish is still smarting some 20 years after he was expelled from the hard rock band Vesuvius, a legendary band of musicians in their own right.
Curtis (Teddy Geiger) is the anchor of A.D.D. and he is reluctant to entertain Fish's shenanigans as a prospective addition, but Fish soon wins Curtis and the rest of the band over. "The Rocker" will win over its audience, and it knows two tempos: wild and hysterical but the most appreciative aspect of the film is that it's sweetly entertaining. You can't help but admire Mr. Wilson's forlorn maniac Fish, and he seeks love of his abilities on the drums as well as love for himself. Where films about musicians making comebacks have tendencies to get mired in the somewhat morose (even in some comedies), "The Rocker" stays cheerful and lighthearted, and Fish enjoys drumming semi-naked, which is as much an occupation for him as mashing the cymbals are.
Mr. Cattaneo has mined the kindling-your-inner-child arena before with the sleeper smash-hit "The Full Monty" from ten years ago. In that film a group of middle-aged and retired men from Sheffield take their kits off, to the delight of the ladies in the small town in Yorkshire, England. None of the men in that film played the drums, but as long as the ladies got to see what David Niven once memorably declared at the Oscars as the men's "shortcomings", they weren't going to complain. Mr. Cattaneo was nominated for Oscar as a best director for "Monty' in 1999 and he knows how to chronicle adorable down-and-outers without making them appear to be saintly or exalted. Warts and all are the name of the game for Mr. Cattaneo's onscreen males -- it's not that they don't necessarily wrestle with demons, it's more that they are compelled by necessity or longing to live out dreams that had seemingly long ago been extinguished or never fully realized.
Worthy of a better release date than dog-days-of-August territory, "The Rocker", which opened across the U.S. and Canada today, is still the perfect summer alternative to the more bombastic blockbuster fare currently in theaters. Peter Cattaneo directs this comedy with aplomb and Rainn Wilson, who plays Robert "Fish" Fishman, a former band drummer in mid-life crisis, does the rest. A.D.D. (attention deficit disorder for those not in the know) is a rock band that is searching for a drummer, and Fish is still smarting some 20 years after he was expelled from the hard rock band Vesuvius, a legendary band of musicians in their own right.
Curtis (Teddy Geiger) is the anchor of A.D.D. and he is reluctant to entertain Fish's shenanigans as a prospective addition, but Fish soon wins Curtis and the rest of the band over. "The Rocker" will win over its audience, and it knows two tempos: wild and hysterical but the most appreciative aspect of the film is that it's sweetly entertaining. You can't help but admire Mr. Wilson's forlorn maniac Fish, and he seeks love of his abilities on the drums as well as love for himself. Where films about musicians making comebacks have tendencies to get mired in the somewhat morose (even in some comedies), "The Rocker" stays cheerful and lighthearted, and Fish enjoys drumming semi-naked, which is as much an occupation for him as mashing the cymbals are.
Mr. Cattaneo has mined the kindling-your-inner-child arena before with the sleeper smash-hit "The Full Monty" from ten years ago. In that film a group of middle-aged and retired men from Sheffield take their kits off, to the delight of the ladies in the small town in Yorkshire, England. None of the men in that film played the drums, but as long as the ladies got to see what David Niven once memorably declared at the Oscars as the men's "shortcomings", they weren't going to complain. Mr. Cattaneo was nominated for Oscar as a best director for "Monty' in 1999 and he knows how to chronicle adorable down-and-outers without making them appear to be saintly or exalted. Warts and all are the name of the game for Mr. Cattaneo's onscreen males -- it's not that they don't necessarily wrestle with demons, it's more that they are compelled by necessity or longing to live out dreams that had seemingly long ago been extinguished or never fully realized.
With "The Rocker" Mr. Cattaneo strikes gold again -- and whether chronicling
a British male or an American one, he hits all the right notes, as does Mr.
Wilson's portrayal of a highly excitable and energetic character. Some
comedies are simply funnier when British actors or directors do them because
the performers and the humor is so much less self-conscious. (It would be
difficult to imagine anyone other than Mr. Cattaneo doing an American
version of "The Full Monty" and pulling it off -- if he so desired to make
that risky move.)
As indicated earlier, Curtis is played by young American pop music sensation Teddy Geiger, whose role here is to whip Mr. Wilson's character into musical shape. Mr. Geiger, in his debut feature film, is serious, purposeful and measured, never selling himself short or letting his well-known off screen musical prowess obscure his character. Emma Stone plays Amelia, A.D.D.'s back up singer, Josh Gad plays Matt, the cherubic band member -- also Fish's nephew -- who initially encourages Fish to join the band, while Christina Applegate, who received some sad news last month (learning that she had breast cancer), does well. Her performance as Curtis's mother Kim adds a nice loving touch on its own, but with the added knowledge of Ms. Applegate's personal off screen battle the role is poignant. Over the years we've seen Ms. Applegate evolve from that bratty, forward and licentious blonde-haired kid on television's "Married With Children" in the late eighties into a film actress who has matured so quickly in roles large and small.
There are other good performances as well and you can tell that the actors are having a good time -- especially Mr. Wilson, whose enthusiasm carries the film past just ordinary. The film features several songs written by Mr. Geiger including "Tomorrow Never Comes" and "Bitter". Mr. Cattaneo's film is written by Maya Forbes & Wallace Wolodarsky, based on a story by Ryan Jaffe -- and in the simplest, most bare-bones way the film works. (Just for trivia: eagle-eyed viewers will be able to spot the director's name spelled backwards at the bottom of a large white card during the direction of a music video.)
"The Rocker" is satirical in a sense, though not quite like "This Is Spinal Tap" -- it doesn't try to wink at its audience but it does make its points about the music business and internal band member strife. Most of all though, Mr. Cattaneo's comedy is enjoyable -- funny, spirited and a big winner -- another summer success that won't disappoint those who invest in it.
With Jeff Garlin, Jane Lynch, Jason Sudeikis, Will Arnett and Howard Hesseman.
"The Rocker" is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for drug and sexual references, nudity and language. The film's duration is one hour and 42 minutes.
Copyright The Popcorn Reel. PopcornReel.com. 2008. All Rights Reserved.
As indicated earlier, Curtis is played by young American pop music sensation Teddy Geiger, whose role here is to whip Mr. Wilson's character into musical shape. Mr. Geiger, in his debut feature film, is serious, purposeful and measured, never selling himself short or letting his well-known off screen musical prowess obscure his character. Emma Stone plays Amelia, A.D.D.'s back up singer, Josh Gad plays Matt, the cherubic band member -- also Fish's nephew -- who initially encourages Fish to join the band, while Christina Applegate, who received some sad news last month (learning that she had breast cancer), does well. Her performance as Curtis's mother Kim adds a nice loving touch on its own, but with the added knowledge of Ms. Applegate's personal off screen battle the role is poignant. Over the years we've seen Ms. Applegate evolve from that bratty, forward and licentious blonde-haired kid on television's "Married With Children" in the late eighties into a film actress who has matured so quickly in roles large and small.
There are other good performances as well and you can tell that the actors are having a good time -- especially Mr. Wilson, whose enthusiasm carries the film past just ordinary. The film features several songs written by Mr. Geiger including "Tomorrow Never Comes" and "Bitter". Mr. Cattaneo's film is written by Maya Forbes & Wallace Wolodarsky, based on a story by Ryan Jaffe -- and in the simplest, most bare-bones way the film works. (Just for trivia: eagle-eyed viewers will be able to spot the director's name spelled backwards at the bottom of a large white card during the direction of a music video.)
"The Rocker" is satirical in a sense, though not quite like "This Is Spinal Tap" -- it doesn't try to wink at its audience but it does make its points about the music business and internal band member strife. Most of all though, Mr. Cattaneo's comedy is enjoyable -- funny, spirited and a big winner -- another summer success that won't disappoint those who invest in it.
With Jeff Garlin, Jane Lynch, Jason Sudeikis, Will Arnett and Howard Hesseman.
"The Rocker" is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for drug and sexual references, nudity and language. The film's duration is one hour and 42 minutes.
Copyright The Popcorn Reel. PopcornReel.com. 2008. All Rights Reserved.