Writer Judd Apatow has a penchant for coarse humor, and with its full frontal nudity (both male and female), language and constant drug use, this film is certainly no exception.  Yes, he’s making a point, but it’s awkward to watch—and it will definitely limit the film’s audience.  Interestingly, Apatow’s most recent successes, especially The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, have distinctly conservative undercurrents, despite their outward appearances.  Here, it’s all about the satire, though, and both Apatow and director/co-writer Jake Kasdan (The TV Set) offer a full send-up of their fellow filmmakers.

Reilly does a great job with the role, playing it straight as only he can.  It’s also wonderful to see Fischer in something other than The Office.  She’s a good actress and surprisingly stunning.  Her songs are all dubbed, but Reilly’s are not, and he’s a phenomenal singer.  Even if some of the lyrics contain heavy-handed innuendo, the original music is quite good throughout.  Be on the lookout for a Partridge Family tune, though.

With it’s penchant for Saturday Night Live potty humor—not to mention its overt sexuality, which includes an extended orgy scene—Walk Hard is apt to pose a problem for many.  Because I like real biopics, clichés and all, I didn’t find it particularly funny, either.  In fact, even though it’s just 96 minutes long, it was hard to keep from yawning. 

If you’re a fan of movies like Anchorman:  The Legend of Ron Burgundy, however, you’ll probably enjoy this one.  Definitely wait ‘til the kids go to bed, though. 

DVD EXTRAS:

• Director’s commentary

CAUTIONS:

• Drugs/Alcohol:  Characters drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and take drugs throughout film.
• Language/Profanity:  Numerous obscenities and profanities, many strong.
• Sexual Content/Nudity:  Extended male and female nudity (full frontal) during an orgy scene. Various other sexual situations between couples, as well as sexual references and innuendos, including crude ones.
• Violence:  In a scene that is meant to amuse for its absurdity, a boy slices his brother in half with a machete.  The brother’s torso falls to the ground while the legs remain upright.  This scene is repeated toward the end of the film with another character who accidentally slices himself in half.  Various fight and pratfalls as well, including a character who likes to destroy bathroom sinks by ripping them from the wall and throwing them to the ground.