The Rocker

The Rocker follows a washed up forty-something drummer named Fish (Rainn Wilson) who does a Pete Best impression and gets kicked out of his band just prior to them making it big back in 1986. Vesuvius becomes the metal sensation ruling the 80's and 90's like Metallica, Motley Crue, Guns n' Roses and Poison all rolled into one monstrous supergroup. With Spinal Tap flair, the band is comprised of barely recognizable comic veterans Will Arnett, Bradley Cooper and Fred Armisen.

Flash to the present. Fish is desperately trying to leave the pain behind, but the reminders of Vesuvius' mega success pervades his every thought, and he just can't escape the personal hell of what might have been. From this point forward, what we get is a more mature and good-natured version of School of Rock, but Wilson is not nearly as annoying as Jack Black despite his character's many deficiencies, and the kids are a little older. What sets the film apart is that you root for Fish to succeed. There is something intangible about the positive way that this film was created. There is something counter intuitive about the character. You keep expecting some horrible quality to come out, but there is simply an excess of sloth and a love for banging the skins. Wilson is almost endearing even as he shamelessly doffs his clothes in a Will Ferrell-esque jam session. Separating Fish from the Dwight Schrute that we all know and love is nearly impossible, but that is alright.

The kids pull their weight as well, especially Fish's nephew (Josh Gad) who is the socially retarded keyboardist who conjures a less brash Jonah Hill. Their journey takes them to unprecedented heights of success, and there is even some satisfaction in the end. What is missing however is the raunchy humor and Apatow wit that we've seen in recent years, but it works as a kid-friendly film.

One knock in my opinion (although small) is the choice of original music. There is a bit of misrepresentation as the kids band is more Emo and less Rock, and although it plays into the plot a little smoother (and makes it more believable), I was really craving some bad 80's metal a la Spinal Tap, or... Vesuvius.

Alas, I left the theatre both impressed and feeling good. Rainn Wilson can carry a film, and apparently some great comedians stand behind him as well (most of the SNL cast). I would recommend this for a good time. Definitely not going to win any awards, but some good laughs nonetheless. 7/10.

Tropic Thunder

The premise sounds hilarious on paper; a motley crew of pompous Hollywood actors find themselves filming a blockbuster Vietnam War movie that turns out more real than they bargained for. The actors involved had to lobby for their roles in the film (including some excellent cameos), and Ben Stiller put together a pretty decent action comedy in the end.

The main characters are introduced in hilarious fashion through mock trailers that clearly show their personalities, the best of which is Satan's Alley with Robert Downey Jr. and a surprising cameo by Tobey Maguire. From there, we are taken into the jungle where the shallow and vice-ridden actors are on set of their most recent film, Tropic Thunder which is experiencing problem after problem and whose budget is skyrocketing, much to the chagrin of the studio head (Tom Cruise).

The story becomes both predictable and dull, but the character interaction keeps it afloat with eccentric personalities and some great dialogue. There are bright spots in the mix - including Cruise, Downey Jr. and the film's explosives expert Danny McBride. Jack Black has some great lines as well, but his performance is a little over the top and the fat comedian/drug addict cliche overshadows some of the enjoyability.

The sub-par performances include Nick Nolte, who plays the Vietnam Vet with his typical gravelly voice, but there is little life behind the voice. I've long thought he is blessed with one of the more unique voices in film, but his acting is suspect at times. This is one of those times. Additionally, Ben Stiller is a little too Zoolander in this one. Granted, he is the action star of the bunch, but does he really have to be a complete idiot? He is a great writer and director, and is hilarious at times, but when he crosses over into the outlandish comedic zone (Zoolander, Dodgeball, Anchorman), it gets a little absurd.

Overall, this is a surprisingly fitting blend of action and comedy with some gross-out visual effects, but what stands out is the great ensemble cast and the A-list cameo performances. A bit of a sidebar, but keep an eye out for Jay Baruchel, who plays a member of the military team. He has comedic presence reminiscent of Michael Cera. Very natural and innocent. His most significant previous performance was as Danger in Million Dollar Baby.

With regard to complaints about the offensiveness of some of the content, it is simply hypersensitive activist groups attempting to draw attention to their cause. It bothers me to no end when entertainment is targeted as offensive for whatever reason. The best way to avoid being offended is to avoid the content in the first place. This movie is not for everyone, but it is quite funny.

I have always thought that Tom Cruise is an exceptional actor. Jerry Maguire, A Few Good Men, Magnolia, and Collateral being some of his better works. He impressed me in last year's Lions for Lambs as well. The problem with him is both the public perception and he is too often typecast as the good looking action star. He isn't given ample opportunity to show his range - particularly his comedic range. I am looking forward to his next few movies, as it appears that his choice of roles are less commercial and dictated by the studios, and more appealing to his own taste.

It is an entertaining movie, not likely to be remembered for more than Downey Jr. playing the black guy or Cruise playing the fat, bald studio head. Worth a look though. 7/10.