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Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Starring John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows and Kristen Wiig |
IN SHORT: This year's Spinal Tap -- only it's all true. Except for the parts that aren't. [Rated R. 90 minutes]
Long before we started the Cranky Critic® site; really, really long before ... the man who would be Cranky worked in rock and roll radio. We started in college radio in the 1970s, helping to build an award winning powerhouse that, two years after we left, was voted the best college station in the country. By that time we had moved into syndicated and network radio, doing interview shows with Robert Klein (before getting my own gig as interviewer for all the B-list artists for NBC's Source Network) and a should-be legendary weekly concert show called The King Biscuit Flower Hour. Let me tell you about Dewey Cox, whose life story is recreated and embellished in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story . . .
Dewey Cox was a putz. That a Yiddish word and it isn't a compliment. Nor is schmuck, a better adjective for the self-absorbed, no-talent whiner that was Dewey Cox. Cox stole writing credit on all his songs from two guys named Dan Bern and Mike Viola who, only now that Dewey has shuffled off into the great hereafter, get proper credit. For the purposes of this film, several other writers (Van Dyk Parks, Marshall Crenshaw, Charlie Wadhams and Antonio Ortiz) added songs for the none-too-prolific Cox. We thank writer Judd Apatow and writer/director Jake Kasdan for properly subjugating Cox' life and turning him into the laughing stock that he deserves to be. Cox, by the way, demanded a ridiculous fee to be recorded for an oldies tribute on the Biscuit. This, when the Rolling Stones provided the best live material they've ever recorded for a double sized program that they didn't charge us a nickel to do. Maybe some old radio guy will sell his or her copy on eBay, but we doubt it. Even worse-- a cardinal sin in those days, one which is affirmed by this film but cannot be attested to by us in real life -- is the brutal faux pas of manners that while Cox nearly ruined his career three or four times because of the use of illegal substances, no one who ever got a backstage pass to one of his legendary shows ever saw him sharing any of his own stash. It's true . . .
Dewey Cox never shared his drugs.
Of course, the smart ones let the publicists and roadies distribute the goodies but that was a long time ago. Apparently Cox would pass on anything he got from band mates Sam and Dave (not the hit makers, just some poor shlubs portrayed here by Tim Meadows and Matt Besser) and Theo (Chris Parnell) but he'd bogart all his own, uh, stuff. This is well represented in this biographical re-creation, whose cast includes yet another SNL vet, Kristen Wiig as Cox' first wife Edith. Jenna Fischer of TV's The Office portrays Cox' second wife, Darlene. Other than that, the film makers would have you all believe that Cox' life was one big joke. From early tours with Elvis and Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper, through journeys to the far East to study with the Beatles at the feet of the Maharishi; through Cox' three marriages, 22 kidlets, his invention of punk rock and reemergence as a country twanger towards the end of his fabled career, his drug busts and drunk behavior busts are as funny as his downward spiral of a life is pathetic. Pathetic to all of us who waited for Dewey to share his stash. We'll say it again . . .
Dewey Cox never shared his drugs. (Kids, don't do drugs. It was OK thirty years ago but it sucks to be you, now.)
...and that is why Cranky doesn't write comedy <rim shot>. It's also why we wouldn't think of writing the funniest joke in the movie, which involves three Members of the Tribe (Harold Ramis, Phil Rosenthal, Martin Starr) and might be condemned by some folks outside of New York. We live in New York. We are MOT. We busted a gut. Hated our self afterwards but that comes with being Jewish. That's all the hints you're going to get.
And that's as far as Cranky will go. Dewey Cox is one big fictional joke. Another rock comedy in the bio mode of things like Spinal Tap. It's dumb but it's funny and probably worth sinking your fist into the godzilla sized popcorn with "golden" topping.
In the midst of the time of year when the theaters are full of Oscar wannabees which will leave you wishing to blow your brains out, it's good to have alternatives like Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story which, for the lucky few, might get other things blown. It is and we've been filling space because to otherwise would mean spilling the jokes. You wouldn't want us to do that. Really, you wouldn't.
I'm not sure exactly what that means. Then again, I'm an admitted liar. Not about the bolded credits. Not about working in rock 'n' roll radio. Not about this movie being a pretty good hoot. That means funny, for those of you under thirty or so.
On average, a first run movie ticket will run you Ten Bucks. Were Cranky able to set his own price to Walk Hard: The Dewey Long Story, he would have paid . . .
$6.50
Every generation needs its own Spinal Tap. Here you go.
We prefer the former, because of certified old fart status and because we knew a lot of the real life folk who were made fun of in Tap. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is cruder than Tap, but it's pretty funny in its own made up kinda way. Of course, we never actually said it was all made up, right? Take our advice and sit through the end credits. All the way. Seriously. 'cuz maybe we're not lying at all. Except about the dateflick rating. We meant that. Suck it in.
Hey, first run movies are expensive! What did you perverts think we were suggesting ???
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