Seductions in the Dark: Jake Kasdan's "Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story"
There really isn't much to say about the sadly inert, new Judd
Apatow-driven comedy, "Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story," an alleged
spoof of that subgenre, the crooner biopic. Not a bad idea but, as
executed here, that's all it is - an idea, unfulfilled.
The title alone is emblematic of the film's desperately infantile
humor - "cox," being the operative word. Cox. Get it? Nudge-nudge.
What can I say? Some critics managed to locate humor in it.
I do, however, have one urgent question that I hope at least one
person out there can answer: What is with the three - count 'em -
three close-up shots of the flacid penis of a faceless, unidentified
day player in the film's hotel orgy sequence? Is Apatow that anxious
to obtain R-ratings for his films? I ask because nothing in this
witless film warrants an R-rating, aside from the poor extra's penis
whose inclusion, incidentally, is wildly gratuitous and which does
nothing to advance what passes for plot here. But I'm happy to report
that penis in question isn't particularly large; in fact, it's
somewhat shorter than the attendant testicles behind it.
But I digress... The main problem with "Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox
Story" is that it isn't remotely funny, followed by the fact that it
recycles ideas and situations from other Apatow comedies from the past
two or three years. If the scene of star John C. Reilly as rebel
country singer Dewey Cox maniacally running around the street in just
a jock strap seems naggingly familiar, that's because Will Ferrell did
approximately the same thing just last year in Adam McKay's far
superior "Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," which Apatow
produced and in which Reilly co-starred. In fact, much of "Walk Hard"
feels like a Will Ferrell reject.
Although Jake Kasdan is nominally listed as the director here,
Apatow's finger prints are all over "Walk Hard." He even managed to
encourage his unofficial mentor Harold Ramis to do a walk-on as a
Hasidic record producer, a bit that's so offensive that even
anti-Semites might be offended.
Current reservations aside, I think Apatow is generally great. His
"Freaks and Geeks" TV series was a minor delight, while his 2005
directorial debut "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" was something of a
heartening revelation - a breezy, in-your-face male-fantasy comedy but
one with a big heart.
Nevertheless, Apatow's attempts to imitate the forumla in subsequent
films - "Knocked Up" (whose smart heroine defied even loose
movie-comedy logic and actually hooked up with a slacker/loser) and
"Superbad" (whose main hero nurtured an out-of-control penis
obsession) - have hinted at an early creative bankruptcy. Regressive
males remain interesting - and droll - for just so long. After that,
the characters become unattractive and their humor desperate and
strained.
The critics who prematurely, and rather hastily, declared Apatow a
comic genius - the latest Golden Boy in Hollywood to have all the
answers for what ails the industry - have done him a disservice. He's
no Preston Struges, as one noted reviewer implied (or, rather,
exaggerated). And he's no Billy Wilder. At least, not yet. But he
could be - if he's willing to move on, evolve.
As for the talented Reilly, between this film and "Criminal," it's
become apparent that he's not ready to carry a film. He's one of
film's top and most reliable character actors/second bananas. Given
the right role and the right opportunity, he might grow into a Star.
But "Walk Hard" doesn't provide that role.
Note in Passing: For what it's worth, "Walk Hard" looks great - thanks
in large part to the contributions of cinematographer Uta Briesewitz,
production designer Jefferson Sage, set decorator Dominic Silvestri
and costume designer Debra McQuire. Actually, it looks too good. Too
slick. Its opulence works against the antic comedy it's attempting.
(Artwork: John C. Reilly, in the title role, and Jenna Fischer duet in
"Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story")
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