Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

I attended a press screening of this with my mom last night. In my opinion, it was very, very good.

I was surprised by the film, as it was a solid, unyielding parody of the troubled music legend biopic from start to finish. I thought that would just be the backdrop for Apatow and his crew to do their usual jokes (like 70's-era local broadcasting, or the NASCAR culture) with limited success. Instead, nearly all the jokes were derived from the spoofing of these overly dramatized, predictable and sensationalist films (no, I didn't so much care for 'Ray' or 'Walk the Line'). This doesn't make it a great film, but it gives a clear gauge by which to judge the film: how astutely, wittily and convincingly their parody is. And it is all of those, very much so.

And since it's a musical parody, the cornerstone is the soundtrack. Since Dewey Cox's life covers nearly all the major moments in rock and pop history (at least the first several decades), there are many types of songs and people to be spoofed. Some are inherently funny, like the Cash/Carter-esque collaboration of double entendres called "Let's Duet", or the outrageously complicated and pompous Brian Wilson-esque "Black Sheep", but others are funny simply because of their excellent mimicry, as in the Roy Orbison homage "A Life Without You (Is No Life At All)". And throughout all this is the shockingly adept and downright enjoyable voice of John C. Reilly, who nails every performer's trademarks and quirks. I wouldn't be surprised if this soundtrack goes right up there with the soundtracks to "This Is Spinal Tap" and "A Mghty Wind".

If you like Apatow's films, or if you like a great parody, or if you just like good music, go see this film.