ROTTEN TOMATOES: Apatow Takes On Biopics in Walk Hard

Apatow Takes On Biopics in Walk Hard

And weird cameos.

by Fred Topel | August 13, 2007

Since musical biographies keep sweeping the Oscars every year, it’s about time a comedian took the piss out of them. Judd Apatow is bringing to the screen a comedic version of such hits as Walk the Line and Ray. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story features John C. Reilly as a musician plagued by inner demons.

"It's a pretty remarkable performance by John C. Reilly because he is the guy that would get that part [in a real drama]," said Apatow. "So he's doing something ridiculous but the acting is also fantastic. He really cries but over stupid things. It's very funny."

Apatow co-wrote with Jake Kasdan, who directs the film. "They wrote 33 songs for the movie. Jack White has a cameo as Elvis and Eddie Vedder inducts him into the music hall of fame. There's a lot of weird cameos. The Beatles are played by Jack Black (as Paul McCartney), Paul Rudd (John Lennon), Jason Schwartzman (Ringo Starr) and Justin Long (George Harrison). Nobody seems at all like any Beatle."

Cox also reportedly performs a song with Jackson Browne and Ghostface Killah during the movie.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story hits theaters December 14, right around awards season.

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(1-13 of 13 posts) | Reply

TomasSPAGHetti writes:
on Aug 13 2007 06:09 PM

Oh man, this is going to be great. Somebody spelled Vedder wrong though. < PJ fan.

(Reply to this)

eternity. writes:
on Aug 13 2007 06:38 PM

The ironic thing is, this will probably get nominated.

(Reply to this)

skletonkee writes:
on Aug 13 2007 07:33 PM

this whole creative circle needs to slow their roll.

(Reply to this)

TheBlackGuy writes:
on Aug 14 2007 02:13 AM

No they don't. They are bringing funny back to comedies. This sounds hilarious.

(Reply to this)

wiggins writes:
on Aug 14 2007 09:08 AM

yeah wtf? you'd rather they just stop making hilarious movies? i was in tears watching knocked up i was laughing so hard. i'm hoping apatow keeps crankin'em out like he has.
stoked for superbad.

(Reply to this)

Darkness My Old Friend writes:
on Aug 14 2007 12:44 PM

Ok, they absolutely need to remake HELP! with that same cast of the Beatles.

(Reply to this)

BReeG writes:
on Aug 14 2007 05:31 PM

I agree with the first sentence up there. It's about damn time. Can't wait.

(Reply to this)

MattBaerFTW writes:
on Aug 14 2007 06:07 PM

Apatow needs not to prove himself to me anymore im ****in in

(Reply to this)

skletonkee writes:
on Aug 14 2007 08:36 PM

hilarious movies? this geek chic genre is getting as boring as torture porn. the films are funny to young white men and that's about it...so yeah, while some folks may still enjoy these films others (like myself) are getting bored with the novelty of them.

(Reply to this)

wiggins writes:
on Aug 14 2007 10:12 PM

so the 91% of critics who positively reviewed knocked up are all young white males? my 48-year-old stepmother who bought the 40 year-old virgin dvd is a young white male? there's nothing wrong with having an opinion and expressing it, but let's lay off the gross generalizations. these films are enjoyed by a wide variety of people, if you don't it's cool, maybe you can give the torture porn another chance.

(Reply to this)

skletonkee writes:
on Aug 14 2007 10:35 PM

and just who are the majority of critics? and once again..sure the first couple films from this group were fine but like i said, their style of shtick is wearing then...a good break would do it (and the market) some good.

(Reply to this)

dCox writes:
on Aug 23 2007 05:35 PM

I think this movie looks Awesome! But I have noticed that the trailer on yahoo is a lot better than the trailer on Youtube...
I think it will be funnier than Talladega Nights, but the question is, can it beat Superbad?

Be sure to check out www.WalkHarder.com

(Reply to this)

matsellah writes:
on Jul 03 2008 04:43 AM

What, no follow-up?

This movie blew chunks. And I'm a white male. About the only bit that was a little funny was the scenes where he walks in on his drummer, engaging in some illicit narcotics.

Other than that, the 'preposterous theme' didn't work.

(Reply to this)