Adventures of Power

2009

Adventures of Power

Critics Consensus

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32%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 19

48%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,031
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Movie Info

A twentysomething misfit dedicates his life to giving the drummer some, even when the drums are only imaginary, in this comedy written and directed by comic Ari Gold. Power (Gold) grew up in a small mining town in New Mexico, where his father (Michael McKean) always imagined his son would one day join him in digging copper from the earth. But Power has a dream of playing the drums, and since he doesn't have a drum kit, he's become a master of "air drums," flailing his arms in the manner of Neil Peart or Keith Moon against a huge but nonexistent set of traps. Power's desire to become the world's greatest air drummer doesn't earn him much respect at home, so he travels to Mexico, where he learns of an air-drumming competition in Newark, NJ. Power hits the road for the garden state and meets Carlos (Steven Williams), a master air drummer who becomes his guide in the art of not really playing. Power also gets some much-needed encouragement from Annie (Shoshannah Stern), a sweet born-again girl living upstairs from him. But when Power learns that his father back home is leading a strike to save jobs for the employees at the local copper mine, winning the title becomes a matter of defending the honor of his family and his hometown, and he dedicates himself to defeating arrogant country music star Dallas Houston (Adrien Grenier), who is favored to win. Adventures of Power also stars Jane Lynch, Travis Johns, and Jimmy Jean-Louis. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Cast

Ari Gold
as Power
Michael McKean
as Harlan
Jane Lynch
as Joanie
Adrian Grenier
as Dallas
Shoshannah Stern
as Annie
Chiu Chi Ling
as Michael Fong
Steven Williams
as Carlos
Jimmy Jean-Louis
as Aubelin
Richard Fancy
as Houston
Annie Golden
as Farrah
Travis Johns
as Brain Dog
Tim Heidecker
as Fly
Eric Wareheim
as Money
Wai Ching Ho
as Yolanda
Nick Kroll
as Versacio Sabian
Bruce Newbold
as Chambliss
Kevin Rodriguez
as Sid
John Flanagan
as Frank
Nina Gold
as Shelley
Roger Benally
as Indian Cowboy
Markie Dunn
as Samantha
Summer Rona
as Linda
Scott Hanks
as Jeep Dude
Mike Hamill
as Mean Cowboy
Luis Accinelli
as Jalisco
Paul Boruff
as Old Hippie
Theresa Ellis
as Old Hippie's Wife
Albert Huerta
as Raul
Tod Huntington
as Bobby
Juan Diaz
as Last Drummer
Walter A. Carmona
as Mexican Referee
Jared Nielsen
as Young Power
Skyler Gisondo
as Sid's Voice
Rafael Rojas
as Ernesto
Jothy Singh
as Lal
Harry Van Gorkum
as Foot McTeag
Jeff Holman
as Handler
Riley Peterson
as Young Dallas
Tuffy Questell
as Freddie
John Bianco
as Anthony
Samantha Maloney
as Roxie
Tyrone Roy
as Bouncer
Mike Sophia
as Himself
Neil Peart
as Himself
Jason Michael Fong
as Chiu Chi-ling
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Critics Consensus: Retreat From Couples Retreat
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Critic Reviews for Adventures of Power

All Critics (19) | Top Critics (9)

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Audience Reviews for Adventures of Power

  • Feb 16, 2011
    Well, this sure was silly...but I did find it kind of funny at times. Think of Spinal Tap meets Napolean Dynomite. Adrian Grenier is in this, too, which probably kept me from reaching for that eject button. eh. It had its moments. My teenage daughter sure got a kick out of it, though. Guess that tells ya sumpin..
    Cynthia S Super Reviewer
  • Oct 30, 2009
    Adventures of Power In Adventures of Power our protagonist, Power, teeters between silly Napoleo Dynamite-like impersonation and seriously comedic acting--the kind seen in a Wes Anderson project. The effect of it all is that the film is, at once, fun and funny but, on the other hand, thoughtful and sweet. It marries the two worlds of silliness and poignancy effortlessly. Taking place in a small industrial town, the film centers around a lovable, albeit slovenly, loser with a heart of gold who refuses to grow up. His one and only goal, obsession and purpose in life is to play the drums. If you find that to be disheartening, here's the kicker: it's air drums! While the world is his cymbal, that instrument is rejecting his stick with a loud screech. Power is misunderstood and ignored by most of the people who surround him in his Texas hometown. After some exploratory roughing-up in a Mexican border town, he realizes his true calling is on the opposite end of the country--in glorious New Jersey. If the premise sounds like a gimmick, it is. There's nothing that Power won't do or any length he won't go to in order to show the world what he's made of. Adrien Grenier (of "Entourage" fame) makes a fun appearance as Power's boyhood nemesis who secretly shares Power passion for air-drumming despite his rich tycoon father having bought him his way into his very own "legitimate" Country-Emo band--where he plays the real drums. In the end, both men are forced to face off in a battle of the air drums on an implausibly televised national competiton. By that time, Power has united with a rag-tag set of misfit "drummers" and become friends with them; he's found a girl who sees him as more than just a pathetic loser and hear's his heart beat in more ways than one. Despite all this hokeyness and unabashed fluff, the movie ends up feeling like a triumph in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way. It is unashamed of its sentimentality and never takes itself too seriously.
    Rico Z Super Reviewer
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