Life has not been easy for legendary American icon Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly). At the age of seven he cut his brother in half in a tragic machete accident, his father Pa Cox (Raymond J. Barry) refusing to let him forget the wrong kid died . At 15, Dewey sang a song during the school talent show so powerful it caused the children to start dancing uncontrollably, leading the local townsfolk to set upon his home with torches and rocks cursing him for playing the “Devil’s Music.”

A faux album cover from Sony Pictures' Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Later, married to his High School sweetheart Edith (Kristen Wiig) and now out on the road with band, the musician begins to experiment with every drug known to man and engage in sexual orgies beyond imagining. As the years rapidly zoom by, Dewey fathers 22 legitimate children, parties with the Beatles in India, becomes best friends with a chimpanzee, is in and out of rehab, stars in his own 70’s variety show, buys a camel and falls in love with pious backup singer Darlene Madison (Jenna Fischer), even marrying her (albeit while still hitched to Edith). And that’s only the beginning, the singer’s life and times getting even crazier from there.

Let’s be frank. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is not going to change lives. It isn’t a film we’re going to remember years from now (or probably in a couple of months). What it is, and what it all probably needed to be, is funny, and for ninety or so blissful minutes I laughed my butt off and as far as I’m concerned that fact is really the only one that truly matters.

At this point I’m starting to think co-writer and producer Judd Apatow can do no wrong. While this one lacks the smarts and the pointedly subtle intelligence of his last three efforts The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up or Superbad, it more than makes up for this absence in pure unadulterated hilarity. This film is coarse, it is rude and it is sometimes even sick, but it is also surprisingly sweet (and even sort of endearing), and by the time it was over (and I had picked my jaw up from the floor) I had to admit I just had a truly great time.

Granted, none of what transpires here shouldn't be construed as rocket science. This is parody, plain and simple, Apatow and co-writer/director Jake Kasdan (Zero Effect, The T.V. Set) lampooning the Hollywood musical biopic playbook in just about every way. The biggest influences are, of course, Ray and Walk the Line, but elements of everything from The Glen Miller Story to Sweet Dreams to Coal Miner’s Daughter to even The Jazz Singer can be found here, the filmmakers pulling no punches and offering no apologies for all the rampaging adult silliness.

Obviously this won’t be for every taste, and like all comedies of this sort not all of the jokes will play equally for everyone, but as far as I’m concerned the film works downright beautifully. I think Reilly (who is currently pulling a Borat and touring the talk show circuit – and even giving concert performances – completely in-character) is amazing, while Fischer does the best little Reese Witherspoon impersonation I think I’ve ever seen. The songs are inspired (especially a charmingly innuendo laden number called “Duet”), Kasdan’s direction solid and Uta Briesewitz’s (Session 9) delicately intricate cinematography much better then you’d expect for a comedy like this. 

All in all, Walk Hard is a good time that sent me out into the street smiling. Heck, I might even have been singing under my breath. Not that I’d ever admit to it, but, well… I guess I’ll just leave it at that.

Film Rating: êêê (out of 4)

Additional Links:

-  Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Theatrical Trailer