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Movies / On DVD / The Rocker
The Rocker

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The Rocker (2008)

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Reviews Counted:117

Fresh:46

Rotten:71

Average Rating:5.1/10

Consensus: With a predictable and lightweight story, the earnest efforts of the cast are squandered by The Rocker's bland script.

Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for drug and sexual references, nudity and language.

Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:17-10-2008

Synopsis: Slovenly drummer Robert "Fish" Fishman (THE OFFICE's Rainn Wilson) is booted out of his 1980s hair metal band, Vesuvius, right as they're signed to a big label, crushing his dreams and leading to a... Slovenly drummer Robert "Fish" Fishman (THE OFFICE's Rainn Wilson) is booted out of his 1980s hair metal band, Vesuvius, right as they're signed to a big label, crushing his dreams and leading to a 20-year stretch of office park employment. A second chance comes in the form of his overweight teenage keyboardist nephew (Josh Gad) who needs an emergency drummer for his band's gig at the prom. It's an odd match--an '80s metal guy in a teen emo-lite band (their name is A.D.D.)--but he's soon offering fatherly counsel to fatherless boy singer Curtis (Teddy Geiger), giving hair gel tips to the foxy bassist (Emma Stone), and working to get the band a club gig. Soon A.D.D. is signed to the same label as Vesuvius, poised for major MTV-stardom, all leading to a big arena spot as the opening band for the dreaded Vesuvius. Fish needs to overcome his tantrum-throwing ways and step up to the kit, if he wants to impress Curtis's hot mom (Christina Applegate) and outrock his former colleagues. A cross between rock star fantasia à la SCHOOL OF ROCK and the Will Ferrell School of man-child comedy, THE ROCKER benefits from tight editing and pretty decent songs. Real-life musician Geiger saves some rough stretches with his easygoing charisma, while Peter Best (the drummer dropped from the Beatles and hence the quintessential "dumped drummer") makes a cameo. It's directed by Peter Cattaneo of THE FULL MONTY [More]

Starring: Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jeff Garlin, Teddy Geiger

Starring: Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jeff Garlin, Teddy Geiger, Emma Stone, Josh Gad, Jane Lynch, Jason Sudeikis, Howard Hesseman, Bradley Cooper, Lonny Ross, Will Arnett, Fred Armisen

Director: Peter Cattaneo, Anthony B. Richmond

Director: Peter Cattaneo
Screenwriter: Maya Forbes, Wally Wolodarsky
Story: Ryan Jaffe
Producer: Shawn Levy, Tom McNulty
Director: Anthony B. Richmond
Composer: Chad Fischer
Studio: Fox Atomic

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for The Rocker

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21 - 40 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Just when you think the dog days of summer movies are upon us along comes a hilarious sleeper hit.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
11/20/08
Pete Hammond
Pete Hammond
Hollywood.com

Uh, Mr. Projectionist? Could you stop the movie? I wanna get off now.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
10/18/08
Jim Slotek
Jim Slotek
Jam! Movies

This rock music comedy does has a few chuckles and belly laughs. And unlike a few other smug, self-satisfied comedies that have come along recently, this one at least seems to have a heart at its center.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
10/18/08
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Delivers what it promises and satisfies the filmmakers' objectives (even if it isn't my kinda movie), and despite its many predictable elements, has enough entertainment value to have elicited applause from the preview audience

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/04/08
Andrew L. Urban
Andrew L. Urban
Urban Cinefile

Wilson has neither the acting chops nor musician's soul to be believable, merely a rip-off of Jack Black and Will Ferrell.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
09/27/08
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

To those moviegoers who’ve expressed some weariness of Will Ferrell and Jack Black always doing what they do: Well, OK, here’s somebody else doing it.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
09/04/08
Jonathan Kiefer
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review

The Rocker neither rocks nor rolls.

Full Review Source: Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) | comment Comment
08/29/08
John Wirt
John Wirt
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)

There's nothing all that wrong with The Rocker. It's just that it's ordinary to a spectacular degree.

Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment Comment
08/27/08
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

The pratfalls and naked jokes don't eek out enough humor, and Wilson's Fish never becomes someone you can truly root for.

Full Review Source: The Scorecard Review | comment Comment
08/26/08
Jeff Bayer
Jeff Bayer
The Scorecard Review

Predictable, but fun.

Full Review Source: Illinois Times | comment Comment
08/24/08
Charles Koplinski
Charles Koplinski
Illinois Times

One of the best things about this film is the insane commitment that Wilson has to get a laugh.

Full Review Source: Film School Rejects | comment Comment
08/22/08
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
Film School Rejects

I had a really good time watching The Rocker. I laughed, I tapped my foot to the music, and I reveled in the extraordinary Rainn Wilson.

Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
08/22/08
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

Wilson's amiably wild-eyed performance hits all the scripted notes in a comedy that is mostly tone-deaf.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
08/22/08
Rossiter Drake
Rossiter Drake
San Francisco Examiner

It's a slave to formula, and it hits its marks satisfyingly enough to make for a pleasant time-passer, but Wilson and a loaded supporting cast are never as funny as they should be.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
08/22/08
Scott Tobias
Scott Tobias
AV Club

The Rocker ends up doing more to whet appetites for School of Rock 2 than it does to actually entertain.

Full Review Source: Paste Magazine | comment Comment
08/22/08
Sean Gandert
Sean Gandert
Paste Magazine

The Rocker has the requisite vomit, the view of some very unfortunate hind quarters and the suds. It's also got a vein of sweetness and charm.

Full Review Source: Wall Street Journal | comment Comment
08/22/08
Joanne Kaufman
Joanne Kaufman
Wall Street Journal

I don't doubt you can find some sort of enjoyment in watching The Rocker, but it's just one of those movies you'll forget about in a couple days.

Full Review Source: Watertown Daily Times | comment Comment
08/22/08
Adam Tobias
Adam Tobias
Watertown Daily Times

It's totally predictable, but if you've ever nursed a rock-star fantasy at any age, it's impossible to hate this. And the three kids are really good.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
08/22/08
Luke Y. Thompson
Luke Y. Thompson
E! Online

As a satire of the music biz and in micro, long-haired heavy metal bands, the film's obviously no 'This is Spinal Tap,' and the new songs are forgettable, just like the overall film, even if (or because) Wilson does a good Jack Black impersonation.

Full Review Source: Screen It! | comment Comment
08/22/08
Jim Judy
Jim Judy
Screen It!

Riff out? Please. This is about as hardcore as a wrestling match between Clay Aiken and Barry Manilow.

Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | comment Comment
08/22/08
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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