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The Rocker

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The Rocker (2008)

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Reviews Counted:117

Fresh:46

Rotten:71

Average Rating:5.1/10

Consensus: With a predictable and lightweight story, the earnest efforts of the cast are squandered by The Rocker's bland script.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for drug and sexual references, nudity and language.

Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Aug 20, 2008 Wide

Box Office: $6,339,401

Synopsis: Slovenly drummer Robert "Fish" Fishman (THE OFFICE's Rainn Wilson) is booted out of his 1980s hair metal band, Vesuvius, right as they're signed to a big label, crushing his dreams and leading to a... Slovenly drummer Robert "Fish" Fishman (THE OFFICE's Rainn Wilson) is booted out of his 1980s hair metal band, Vesuvius, right as they're signed to a big label, crushing his dreams and leading to a 20-year stretch of office park employment. A second chance comes in the form of his overweight teenage keyboardist nephew (Josh Gad) who needs an emergency drummer for his band's gig at the prom. It's an odd match--an '80s metal guy in a teen emo-lite band (their name is A.D.D.)--but he's soon offering fatherly counsel to fatherless boy singer Curtis (Teddy Geiger), giving hair gel tips to the foxy bassist (Emma Stone), and working to get the band a club gig. Soon A.D.D. is signed to the same label as Vesuvius, poised for major MTV-stardom, all leading to a big arena spot as the opening band for the dreaded Vesuvius. Fish needs to overcome his tantrum-throwing ways and step up to the kit, if he wants to impress Curtis's hot mom (Christina Applegate) and outrock his former colleagues. A cross between rock star fantasia à la SCHOOL OF ROCK and the Will Ferrell School of man-child comedy, THE ROCKER benefits from tight editing and pretty decent songs. Real-life musician Geiger saves some rough stretches with his easygoing charisma, while Peter Best (the drummer dropped from the Beatles and hence the quintessential "dumped drummer") makes a cameo. It's directed by Peter Cattaneo of THE FULL MONTY [More]

Starring: Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jeff Garlin, Teddy Geiger

Starring: Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jeff Garlin, Teddy Geiger, Emma Stone, Josh Gad, Jane Lynch, Jason Sudeikis, Howard Hesseman, Bradley Cooper, Lonny Ross, Will Arnett, Fred Armisen

Director: Peter Cattaneo, Anthony B. Richmond

Director: Peter Cattaneo
Screenwriter: Maya Forbes, Wally Wolodarsky
Story: Ryan Jaffe
Producer: Shawn Levy, Tom McNulty
Director: Anthony B. Richmond
Composer: Chad Fischer
Studio: Fox Atomic

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jun 16, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Twenty years after being kicked out of his nearly famous '80s hair band, Robert "Fish" Fishman (Wilson) finds himself trapped in a dead-end office job and living with his sister's family. But when opportunity rocks, Fish gets a hilarious second chance at stardom, and without missing a beat, the desperate drummer vows to reclaim the rock-god throne he always thought he deserved!
  • Source: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
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    Reviews for The Rocker

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    Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
    02/27/09
    Chris Bumbray
    Chris Bumbray
    JoBlo's Movie Emporium

    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.

    Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
    02/12/09
    Michael Dequina
    Michael Dequina
    TheMovieReport.com

    ...an agreeable, sporadically hilarious comedy that benefits substantially from the almost uniformly strong performances.

    Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
    02/06/09
    David Nusair
    David Nusair
    Reel Film Reviews

    All premise and no purpose.

    Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | comment Comment
    01/29/09
    David Cornelius
    David Cornelius
    DVDTalk.com

    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.

    Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment 1 Comment
    11/21/08
    Peter Rainer
    Peter Rainer
    Christian Science Monitor

    Just when you think the dog days of summer movies are upon us along comes a hilarious sleeper hit.

    Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
    11/20/08
    Pete Hammond
    Pete Hammond
    Hollywood.com

    Uh, Mr. Projectionist? Could you stop the movie? I wanna get off now.

    Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
    10/18/08
    Jim Slotek
    Jim Slotek
    Jam! Movies

    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.

    Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
    10/18/08
    John Hazelton
    John Hazelton
    Screen International

    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.

    Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
    10/18/08
    Jeff Vice
    Jeff Vice
    Deseret News, Salt Lake City

    As a movie, it may not rock, but it rolls along nicely enough.

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    10/17/08
    Wally Hammond
    Wally Hammond
    Time Out

    Amiable enough yet unadventurous and uneven, this may coax the odd big smile from viewers but it never rocks the house.

    Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
    10/17/08
    Anton Bitel
    Anton Bitel
    Channel 4 Film

    There are occasionally amusing moments, but the writing lacks the warmth that made School of Rock such a hit.

    Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
    10/17/08
    Wendy Ide
    Wendy Ide
    Times [UK]

    It all looks good and there's a decent cast but nothing really takes off.

    Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
    10/17/08
    Peter Bradshaw
    Peter Bradshaw
    Guardian [UK]

    Essentially covering the same playlist as Jack Black’s School of Rock, The Rocker is a good-natured, live-the-dream lark in which the one-liners score hits but the slapstick continually misses.

    Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
    10/17/08
    Elliott Noble
    Elliott Noble
    Sky Movies

    Worth your hard earned money if you’re looking for some entertaining light entertainment.

    Full Review Source: Heart 106.2 | comment 1 Comment
    10/17/08
    Heart 106.2

    Just the feelgood movie that everyone needs at the moment.

    Full Review Source: Sun Online | comment Comment
    10/17/08
    Sun Online

    The film is untidy, cheery, sometimes amiable. If only it were funny too.

    Full Review Source: Financial Times | comment Comment
    10/17/08
    Nigel Andrews
    Nigel Andrews
    Financial Times

    Director Peter Cattaneo will probably never repeat his Full Monty success, but even in its mediocre patches one senses a renewed eagerness to entertain.

    Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
    10/17/08
    Anthony Quinn
    Anthony Quinn
    Independent

    The Rocker is certainly not This Is Spinal Tap, but it is fair to moderate entertainment and Rainn Wilson holds it all together energetically.

    Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
    10/17/08
    Derek Malcolm
    Derek Malcolm
    This is London

    Essentially a Will Ferrell Lite movie, this toothless comedy has a likeable central performance from Rainn Wilson and several hilariously spiky side characters. But it never quite hits its comical stride.

    Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
    10/17/08
    Rich Cline
    Rich Cline
    Shadows on the Wall
     
     
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