The Rocker (2008)
Average Rating: 5.2/10
Reviews Counted: 123
Fresh: 51 | Rotten: 72
With a predictable and lightweight story, the earnest efforts of the cast are squandered by The Rocker's bland script.
Average Rating: 5.3/10
Critic Reviews: 35
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 20
With a predictable and lightweight story, the earnest efforts of the cast are squandered by The Rocker's bland script.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 43,309
My Rating
Movie Info
The Office star Rainn Wilson portrays a drummer named "Fish," who gets a second shot at fame 20 years after getting kicked out of his band on the very night they signed the record contract that made them stars. Fish has spent the past two decades languishing at soul-crushing day jobs while his old bandmates became legends, continuing to grace magazine covers and dominate the radio. He might just get another chance at musical success, however, when his teenage cousin invites him to drum for his
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Cast
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Rainn Wilson
Robert "Fish" Fishman -
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Josh Gad
Matt -
Teddy Geiger
Curtis -
Emma Stone
Amelia -
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The Rocker Trailer & Photos
All Critics (126) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (73) | DVD (11)
A whacked-out, superannuated, would-be rock star might seem to be too easy a comic target, but Wilson gives this sad sack so many fresh twists that he never wears out his welcome.
Top CriticAs a movie, it may not rock, but it rolls along nicely enough.
The Rocker has the requisite vomit, the view of some very unfortunate hind quarters and the suds. It's also got a vein of sweetness and charm.
The melody of The Rocker feels predictable but the beat is refreshingly off-kilter.
The film equivalent of an inoffensive throwaway track, what we used to call a B-side, back in the days of Vesuvius.
The conflicts that arise are highly predictable. But there are plenty of funny moments, as well as a sweet subplot involving the unkempt drummer and the guitarist's no-nonsense mom.
The Rocker is more Keane than Keith Moon: slow, safe and about as edgy as a tangerine.
More fun than a fifth of Rebel Yell and a bag of Quaaludes.
As much as the movie rocked, the DVD rocks more.
Just because one is a scene stealer on TV does not mean he or she is big screen material, period, much less a movie star.
...an agreeable, sporadically hilarious comedy that benefits substantially from the almost uniformly strong performances.
All premise and no purpose.
Just when you think the dog days of summer movies are upon us along comes a hilarious sleeper hit.
Uh, Mr. Projectionist? Could you stop the movie? I wanna get off now.
The moments don't add up to much, though, and the dramatic arc ends up feeling even narrower than it usually is in this kind of story.
This rock music comedy does has a few chuckles and belly laughs. And unlike a few other smug, self-satisfied comedies that have come along recently, this one at least seems to have a heart at its center.
Audience Reviews for The Rocker
Super Reviewer
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- Robert "Fish" Fishman: Some people carry a rabbits foot...I like to rock a pocket of puke.
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- Robert "Fish" Fishman: 1991 called, they want their teen angst back.
- Amelia: They just called again, they want their joke back.
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- Robert "Fish" Fishman: I will drag you down to Hell, I will eat your souls!
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- Robert "Fish" Fishman: I'm a golden fish!
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August 20, 2008:
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A slightly more mature 'School of Rock' type of plot which does work better with teens rather than kids but it just doesn't have quite enough cheek to it. Not outright soft porn but it could of done with being alittle bit more edgy as its dealing with rock n roll. Some good laugh moments but again not quite laugh out loud, more of a chuckle, but Wilson does make it better than it should be (straight to DVD rip of 'School of Rock' haha), and the rest of the cast do fit in pretty well too. One thing that did stand out over 'School of Rock' was the people and music in this film actually do come across as real rockers with real tunes, it all looks much more authentic, which helps of course.
Nice film with Wilson summing up the old sweaty has been drummer part very nicely, almost a surprise classic but not quite.