‘The Rocker’ is mostly painful
Marcus Buckner-Perry
For The Corner News
published August 27, 2008
Photo by movies.yahoo.com

Rainn Wilson pretty much reprises his character on “The Office” in “The Rocker.”

While this month’s strong line of R-rated comedies will leave you in stitches, “The Rocker” (PG-13) delivers a movie that’s just painful to watch.

Rainn Wilson simply regurgitates his character Dwight from “The Office” into the role of Fish, an ill-informed, well-intentioned buffoon who has fame and fortune stripped away during his prime as an ‘80s drummer. The film fast-forwards to the present where his old band has reached rock stardom on par with The Stones while Fish works as a low-level call technician. Rainn’s character never matures to the fact that life dealt him a bad hand, and a series of events compel him back to the drummer’s chair for his nephew’s band.

The second and third act follow a “School of Rock” formula with comedy that is simply brutal to endure. This is no surprise considering the writers, Maya Forbes and Wally Wolodarsky, previous credits include the HBO series, “The Larry Sanders Show” and “The Tracy Ullman Show.”

Though you have seen this movie countless times in different formats, “The Rocker” almost wins you over by centering the plot on the music and hiring a supporting cast with genuine talent. “Tomorrow Never Comes” and “Bitter,” the two Chad Fischer singles showcased throughout the film could easily find their way to Billboard’s Top Ten.

Ultimately, you almost forgive the film for lacking in originality because Rainn Wilson appears so well-suited for his occupation as a fool, and because those tunes are just so darn catchy.



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