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May 6, 2008

"Walk Hard" spoofs spate of musical bio-pics

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” to video retail and rental outlets last week (April 8). This one is a must have.

The style is a mock-u-mentary, similar in scope to the 1991 “The Committments”.

As with that earlier film and DVD release, the heart of "Walk Hard" is in the music. The release is both monumentally stupid and unfathomably smart.

If the viewer didn’t listen closely, one might be fooled into thinking these were actual hit songs from their respective time periods. Of course, listening to the lyrics is part of the fun. The song Cox sings with his girlfriend-to-be, Darlene, “Let’s Duet” is filled with double-entendres that are really funny. I also found their spoof of the Bob Dylan songs to be downright brilliant. Since the writers took the time to be so verbose and intricate with their nonsensical free-form verses, they allowed the bit to work on multiple levels as both an homage and a biting jab at Dylan's alleged lyrical genius.

Dewey Cox’s life story, surprisingly, has many of the same high and low points as a recently re-released “Walk the Line”. Johnny Cash probably is rolling in his grave, but in laughter and not dismay. There are just too many classic moments in this film.

OK, this release has it all — dumb jokes based on a thorough knowledge of the history of pop music and detailed research into the musician biopic format. And, of course, nudity just for the sake of nudity. Judd Apatow admitted as much in one of the commentaries. There are gags, spoofs and a constant sarcastic dialog that has so much humor, you will miss it if you do not pay attention.

However, if you're not a fan of the slapstick genre (i.e. “Airplane”, the “Naked Gun” series, etc.) then you will probably not enjoy this movie as much as someone that does.

So this release starts out and continues to middle and is tremendously funny. As the movie progresses, however, the hilarity wanes, but the prosthetics and make-up everyone sports as the movie spans from the time Cox is 6 until he is 71 years old are impressive.

Cast: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Raymond J. Barry, Margo Martindale, Kristen Wiig, Chip Hormess Conner Rayburn, Tim Meadows, Chris Parnell, Matt Besser, Frankie Muniz, Eddie Vedder, Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovett, Jewel Kilcher, Ghostface Killah, Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Jason Schwartzman and The Temptations: Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon, Bruce Williamson

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Rated (*** 1/2 out of ****)

Synopsis: (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” arrives on DVD and Blu-ray Disc™ April 8, 2008, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

This parody tells the story of the trials and tribulations of the greatest non-existent rock star of all time, Dewey Cox, played by Oscar®-nominee John C. Reilly.

Riley is supported by an incomparable ensemble cast including Jenna Fisher, “Saturday Night Live” alums Tim Meadows and Chris Parnell, and includes cameos by Paul Rudd, Justin Long, and a host of musical talents from The Temptations to Ghostface Killaha.

“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” will be available on Two-disc Unrated DVD and Blu-Ray™ High-Def with over two hours of hilarious bonus material, including 30 minutes of all-new footage, deleted and extended scenes and musical sequences, and much more. The film will also be available as a single-disc R-rated DVD.

One of the most iconic figures in rock history, Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly) had it all: the women (over 411 served), the friends (Elvis, The Beatles) and the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle (a close and personal relationship with every pill and powder known to man). But most of all, he had the music that transformed a dimwitted country boy into the greatest American rock star who never lived.

A wild and wicked send-up of every musical biopic ever made, “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” is gut-busting proof that when it comes to hard rocking, living and laughing, a hard man is good to find.

Special Features:

• Deleted & Extended Scenes

• Line-O-Rama

• Song Performances

• The Music of Walk Hard

• The Real Dewey Cox

• Commentary with Jake Kasdan, Judd Apatow, John C. Reilly & Lew Morton

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