DVD Release Date:  April 8, 2008
Theatrical Release Date:  December 21, 2007
Rating:  R (for sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language)
Genre:  Comedy
Run Time:  96 min.
Director:  Jake Kasdan
Actors:  John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows, Kristen Wiig

Ah, the music biopic.  We’ve seen the story told about all the big musicians.  A talented young man overcomes his hardscrabble, abusive childhood.  After rising to fame, he sees it all crash, after succumbing to one too many temptations—usually wine, women and drugs.  Finally, the singer makes peace with himself and his loved ones, after which he solidifies his reputation as a music legend.

Such is the story of Walk Hard, a mock biopic which pokes fun of this oh-so-basic plot and all the clichés we’ve come to expect.  With its drinking and drugging main character who can’t resist a thing, Walk Hard swats hardest at Walk the Line—particularly through its relationship between its star, Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly) and his back-up singer (Jenna Fischer).  Ray also gets a little prodding as well.

Back when and way down South, Dewey grew up with a devoted mother and a verbally abusive father.  So when he accidentally kills his über-talented brother (by slicing him in half with a machete), his father yells, “The wrong boy was killed!”  Dad keeps up that bitter refrain until Dewey leaves, at the tender age of 14, accompanied by his 12-year-old girlfriend (Kirsten Wiig).  

Several babies later, Dewey finally gets his big break—despite his wife’s constant criticism (in one exchange, he accuses her of “not believing in him;” she replies, “I do, Dewey.  I just know you’re going to fail!”)  After only one performance that wows the Orthodox Jewish record executives who must decide his fate, Dewey begins recording.  One hit turns into another, until he is signing autograph after autograph and raking in the cash.  Dewey’s star is on the rise, and the only thing that can stop him is drugs.  They do.

He tries to resist, but the lure is just too strong.  Not so with his adorable back-up singer (Fischer), who wisely keeps Dewey at arm’s length.  Soon, however, Dewey has managed to overcome Darlene’s resistance as well.  His wife divorces him.  Dewey and Darlene marry, but she eventually leaves him, too, after Dewey refuses to kick the habit.  Meanwhile, he and his band are locked in a downward spiral, trying to keep up with the changing music culture, decade after decade.