The Rocker

Copyright 2008, Twentieth Century Fox

Yes, it's been done before, and so it can only get so many points for originality, but damn if The Rocker is actually a funny movie. Sure, Jack Black could easily sue for copyright infringement, but why bother? Rainn Wilson may not be a leading man yet (and maybe he shouldn't be, based on how much the movie chooses not to focus on his Robert "Fish" Fishman), but this is a good start for the erstwhile Dwight K. Schrute.

The plot of this film is pretty simple: Fish used to be the drummer for Vesuvius, a heavy metal band that got big as soon as they dropped Fish from the band. As Vesuvius became a worldwide success, Fish wallowed in the missed opportunity to be a star. Twenty years later, he loses his job and girlfriend and moves in with his sister, whose son is in a band of his own. Things happen and Fish ends up being the new drummer for ADD, made up of Matt, the nephew (Josh Gad); Amelia (Emma Stone); and Curtis (Teddy Geiger), the lead singer and songwriter. The band soars, and a confrontation with Vesuvius is in the cards for Fish, as well as a romance with Curtis' mom (Christina Applegate).

Wildly original this film is not. No, this is a film that skates on the charms of its actors. From Wilson to Applegate to Stone to the actors with smaller parts (Jason Sudeikis, Demetri Martin, Jane Krakowski, Jane Lynch, Jeff Garlin, Will Arnett, Fred Armisen, and Bradley Cooper), The Rocker is a movie with actors who elevate the material. Otherwise, this is a forgettable piece of filmmaking from Peter Cattaneo (the man who directed The Full Monty). Why see it? Well, it's worth a few laughs, if you're a fan of the actors mentioned above. Otherwise, Wilson is still looking for the right non-Schrute role (though this is certainly a far cry from his time on The Office).

Two and a half stars out of four