A Year of Movies Round 2 - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

[Raising Heel]

OOTB Picker: @heelz2345
Movie: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Year: 2007
Director: Jake Kasden
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, David Krumholtz
Run Time: 1h 36m



Here's the updated schedule.

Round 1 (02/18/18) --- @Raising Heel (Memento - 77.8 avg rating)
Round 2 (03/04/18) --- @heelz2345 (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story)
Round 3 (03/18/18) --- @TarHeelMark
Round 4 (04/01/18) --- @tarheel0910
Round 5 (04/15/18) --- @BillyL
Round 6 (04/29/18) --- @TarHeelNation11
Round 7 (05/13/18) --- @grillheel
Round 8 (05/27/18) --- @strummingram
Round 9 (06/10/18) --- @coolwaterunc
Round 10 (06/24/18) --- @coryfly
----------------------------------------------------------------
Round 11 (07/08/18) --- @Raising Heel
Round 12 (07/22/18) --- @heelz2345
Round 13 (08/05/18) --- @TarHeelMark
Round 14 (08/19/18) --- @tarheel0910
Round 15 (09/02/18) --- @BillyL
Round 16 (09/16/18) --- @TarHeelNation11
Round 17 (09/30/18) --- @grillheel
Round 18 (10/14/18) --- @strummingram
Round 19 (10/28/18) --- @coolwaterunc
Round 20 (11/11/18) --- @coryfly

 

[heelz2345]

Ok, so after some careful consideration, I thought it would be good to go with a comedy since our last one was a little intense, and so I decided to go with Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. This movie was nominated for 2 Golden Globes, including Best Song for "Walk Hard" and Best Actor in a Comedy for John C. Reilly. Walk Hard may not be as well known as some of Reilly's collaborations with Will Ferrell, but this movie is a very clever send up of the musical biopic that was very popular in the mid to early 2000's.

Also, while these aren't my official selections, I'm planning to see A Wrinkle in Time and Tomb Raider in theaters in this two week span, so if anyone checks those out and wants to discuss them, you can do so here.

 

[strummingram]

I've already watched this at least 6 times or more.

I liked most of it. The Beatles scene should have been edited-out. That was awkward and not funny at all. And, that extended ending was too much. I wish they would have ended it at about the same time as Walk The Line ended in Cash's career.

But, aside from that, it was a really funny poke at Walk The Line. The young Dewey had some great scenes. When he learns to play guitar was hilarious. It had quite a few memorable quotes that I can use in every day conversation.

"Dewey, I'm cut in half pretty bad."

"I think I'm doing okay for a 15 year old with a wife and a baby."

 

[coryfly]

I'm not sure if I've seen it or not. I'll look around on NF or something to see if it is there.

 

[Raising Heel]

I'm not sure if I've seen it or not. I'll look around on NF or something to see if it is there.

It is. I linked it in the OP.

 

[gunslingerdick]

“Get outta here Dewey. You don’t want any part of this shit, man.”


That movie is hysterical. I love it. Two thumbs up.

 

[strummingram]

I give it a 7.2 out of 10

I liked most of the comedy and the subject itself was cool. I liked learning the theme song, too!

 

[tarheel0910]

Just finished watching it. As far as parody movies go, it was alright. 60 bags of shredded cheese.

 

[TarHeelMark]

I Hadn’t seen this one in years but just rewatched it. Overall some pretty funny lines, and the Duet song with Darlene was hilarious. (Damn, Jenna Fischer was looking good as the young Darlene).

Good selection @heelz2345, as it was a nice change of pace after the demands that Memento places on the viewer’s attention span.

A solid comedy, with some nice parody to boot. I’ll give it 70 shreds.

OT, but heelz, did you check out “The Frankenstein Chronicles” yet?

 

[grillheel]

Believe it or not, I hadn’t seen it before yesterday. I thought it was very funny and works well as a parody of the Walk the Line and Ray movies. Some of the scenes and lines were hilarious and took me totally by surprise. John C. Reilly and Jenna Fischer were well cast, I thought, and the Duets song was very funny. Some of the lines, double entendres, and sight gags reminded me of Airplane or even The Jerk.
Overall, I’ll give it a 78 out of 100.

 

[coryfly]

Well, I watched it. I liked the music. The Eddie Vedder speech was funny. Some of the parody stuff wasn't terrible. I found it dumb way more than clever or funny though. I'll give it 25 out of 100 because you guys all seem to like it.

 

[WhatTheHeel?]

Also, while these aren't my official selections, I'm planning to see A Wrinkle in Time and Tomb Raider in theaters in this two week span, so if anyone checks those out and wants to discuss them, you can do so here.

Because I knew a movie was coming out, I found my old elementary school copy of A Wrinkle in Time. I remember enjoying it as a kid. When I reread it, it was not very good. Hopefully, the movie will be enjoyable. If I recall correctly, there was a sequel book, "A Swiftly Tilting Planet." I never read that one, but if this movie does well, I imagine it will be next.

As to Dewey Cox, I loved it for its deadpan humor. In all honesty, I watched it because Jenna Fisher was in it, but I ended up really enjoying it. Every now and then, it's nice to have a movie you don't have to think about too much. I don't know if we are supposed to rate these, but I'd go 4/5.

 

[coryfly]

I think there are two follow ups to 'A Wrinkle in Time'. I'm currently reading it because my stepson wants to go see it.

 

[gunslingerdick]

I think there are two follow ups to 'A Wrinkle in Time'. .

A Wind In The Door is one of them. I don't remember the other.

 

[heelz2345]

I Hadn’t seen this one in years but just rewatched it. Overall some pretty funny lines, and the Duet song with Darlene was hilarious. (Damn, Jenna Fischer was looking good as the young Darlene).

Good selection @heelz2345, as it was a nice change of pace after the demands that Memento places on the viewer’s attention span.

A solid comedy, with some nice parody to boot. I’ll give it 70 shreds.

OT, but heelz, did you check out “The Frankenstein Chronicles” yet?

Sorry, just saw this, I haven't checked out the Frankenstein Chronicles yet, I didn't really know anything about it. I looked it up, seems interesting.

 

[heelz2345]

So, as the person who picked this, I obviously thought enough of it to recommend. I rewatched it on Sunday and that was the first time I had watched it beginning to end in quite a long time. I had watched scenes in isolation (The Beatles scene, various songs, "You don't want no part of this $hit"), but watching it beginning to end, the structure is one of the things that it really succeeds in being a successful parody of those movies. The whole thing being a flashback of "Old Dewey" to how it sort of pops in various moments in 20th century America really nail just how those sort of movies work. While the whole cast is strong (Jenna Fischer has the strongest supporting role, but the band, Kristen Wiig, and Dewey's parents have solid parts as well), you have to give it up for John C. Reilly. I've always been a fan of his work and how he can play so many different characters, but he just totally nails this part. I really think this movie would fall apart with someone else in this role, because he is able to showcase so many different talents. He pulls off the ridiculous comedy well, he does a terrific job with the songs, and he has a way of delivering lines that just wouldn't work with other actors in the role. Reilly has long been an underappreciated actor, but this is one of his best works.

For my score, it's hard to judge a comedy as well because it's more subjective, but this is one that I find to be highly rewatchable, highly quotable, and just flat out entertaining. So I'll give it an 85/100.

 

[heelz2345]

As for Wrinkle in Time, I saw it on Saturday and enjoyed it. I hadn't read the book so at times I felt like that would have increased my enjoyment of the movie, but overall, I enjoyed it and thought there were some strong performances. There were some really cool visuals in it, and it has a good message. It would be one of the better movies I've seen so far this year

 

[Raising Heel]

For a movie I hadn't even heard of before, this was a pleasant surprise. I like stupid humor and this film was full of it. There were tons of ridiculous scenes (the duet) and quotable lines ("It turns all your bad feelings into good feelings. It's a nightmare!) that had me cracking up. The film made great use of the chronological story line to poke fun at several different eras and styles of music. Not every joke landed but it was a great way to wind down a weekend when I watched it last Sunday night.

After a point deduction for the sense of smell gag and a point addition for Jenna Fischer's breasts, I'll give it 83 shreds (h/t to @TarHeelMark for the rating system).

 

[Raising Heel]

I'll give it 25 out of 100 because you guys all seem to like it.

I'm tossing this score because you're just being a dick.

With six total ratings, Walk Hard lands an average score of 75.4

 

[heelz2345]

If you guys enjoyed this, try to check out Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Last I checked, it was on HBO Go/Now. It’s the Lonely Island and it’s kind of Spinal Tap for 21st century music. It was very critically acclaimed but bombed at the box office, but it’s worth checking out.

 

[tarheel0910]

If you guys enjoyed this, try to check out Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Last I checked, it was on HBO Go/Now. It’s the Lonely Island and it’s kind of Spinal Tap for 21st century music. It was very critically acclaimed but bombed at the box office, but it’s worth checking out.

That movie was great. As far as parody movies go, I would say it's one of the best.

 

[heelz2345]

Also, I said I'd mention it in this thread, I saw Tomb Raider this weekend, and out of all the movies that are based on video games, it's certainly one of them!

Seriously though, it's just sort of vanilla. It's not great (which I kind of hoped it would be because there were a lot of people I really like in the cast), it's not terrible, it just sort of is. If I didn't have the moviepass, I probably wouldn't have checked it out.

 

[tarheel0910]

Also, I said I'd mention it in this thread, I saw Tomb Raider this weekend, and out of all the movies that are based on video games, it's certainly one of them!

Seriously though, it's just sort of vanilla. It's not great (which I kind of hoped it would be because there were a lot of people I really like in the cast), it's not terrible, it just sort of is. If I didn't have the moviepass, I probably wouldn't have checked it out.

I can't imagine anyone but Angelina in that role.

 

[coryfly]

I'm tossing this score because you're just being a dick.

With six total ratings, Walk Hard lands an average score of 75.4

That doesn't seem fair. You should at least do like the schools and average in a 50. I wasn't just being a dick though. I really thought it was pretty terrible.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

Also, I said I'd mention it in this thread, I saw Tomb Raider this weekend, and out of all the movies that are based on video games, it's certainly one of them!

Seriously though, it's just sort of vanilla. It's not great (which I kind of hoped it would be because there were a lot of people I really like in the cast), it's not terrible, it just sort of is. If I didn't have the moviepass, I probably wouldn't have checked it out.

I can't imagine anyone but Angelina in that role.

From this article about video game movies: Its first weekend of release in the United States was also only about half as lucrative as that of 2001's "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," which starred Angelina Jolie as the titular hero.

heh heh heh

 

[heelz2345]

From this article about video game movies: Its first weekend of release in the United States was also only about half as lucrative as that of 2001's "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," which starred Angelina Jolie as the titular hero.

heh heh heh

I just looked though and its international box office was almost as successful in one weekend as Jolie's was in its entire run.

 

[heelz2345]

Something else about Tomb Raider that bugged me was this (and before I go further, let me say, this movie is not the sole or worst offender in this pet peeve of mine, only the most recent): It ends in a way that is very overtly saying "Well, when we get the sequel, here's what we're going to do!" I just hate that so much; let your movie stand on its own and then worry about sequels happening. There are movies that I love that have fallen prey to this, and sometimes a tease works (especially if the sequel actually happens) but more often than not, when a movie does this, it doesn't get a sequel and just makes you laugh that they thought it would.

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

I just looked though and its international box office was almost as successful in one weekend as Jolie's was in its entire run.

 

[heelz2345]

No I got the titular part. I can laugh at an immature joke and comment on what the article was about at the same time

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

No I got the titular part. I can laugh at an immature joke and comment on what the article was about at the same time

Dammit

 

[heelz2345]

Dammit