Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

A mock musical biopic that pokes fun at such excellent examples of the genre as Walk the Line and Ray, this goofball effort gives top billing to perennial character actor John C. Reilly, whose inspired comic turn as blues legend Dewey Cox is ultimately undermined by a so-so script. Turning to the blues after accidentally killing his brother, young Dewey grows up into the early rock ‘n' roll era, becoming a pop sensation. His long-suffering first wife (Kristen Wiig) gives him, well, a boatload of kids—but Dewey isn't about to be tied down to family life, not when he's being pursued by hordes of female fans and a comely fellow performer (Jenna Fischer). Marital strife naturally ensues, followed in quick succession by drug problems and career reversals. Director Jake Kasdan co-wrote the script with Judd Apatow, who obviously called in some favors and peppered Walk Hard with cameos from actors who appeared in his Knocked Up and Superbad. However, unlike those films, which boasted hilarious set pieces, Walk Hard never rises above the routine, and eventually starts to feel like a painfully extended Saturday Night Live sketch. Optional. [Note: Available in both single-disc and two-disc editions, DVD extras on this two-disc set include both the theatrical and extended versions of the film, audio commentary (by director Jake Kasdan, co-writer/producer Judd Apatow, star John C. Reilly, and executive producer Lew Morton), 16 full song performances (42 min.), “The Last Word with John Hodgman” featurette with the comedian (26 min.), nine deleted/extended scenes (20 min.), a 17-minute featurette on “The Music of Walk Hard,” a 15-minute “making-of” featurette, production featurettes on “The Real Dewey Cox” (14 min.), “Line-O-Rama” (6 min.), “Tyler Nilson: A Cockumentary” (6 min.), “Bull on the Loose” (4 min.), and “A Christmas Song from Dewey Cox” (3 min.), a “Cox Sausage Commercial with Outtakes” (3 min.), audio-only song demos, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for an uneven satire.] (E. Hulse)