January 9, 2008 -- This is an uninspired, straightforward, almost scene-by-scene spoof of the movie “Walk the Line.” In addition to spoofing the Johnny Cash biopic, the film throws in some Bob Dylan, Beatles and Beach Boys (specifically Brian Wilson) references as well. This is a disappointing film. I was expecting something a lot more clever and insightful from a writing team that includes Jud Apatow (“Knocked Up”). There is certainly enough material in movies like “Ray” and “Walk the Line” for an effective spoof and this film mines a lot of that material, but produces few gems for all that effort.

The Dewey Cox double entendre gets worked to death in the movie with numerous references to male genitalia, along with a few actual close ups of the swinging appendages. Despite good performances by John C. Reilly (“Chicago”) as the title character and a solid supporting cast, this film misfires most of the time. It is neither very funny nor touching. It lacks both brains and heart. It looks like a quickie exploitation film. Despite all that, the music isn't bad. Reilly shows off a pretty good singing voice and the songs are catchy and clever, unlike the rest of the film.

The film follows Dewey Cox's career from childhood onward, marred by a machete accident in which he cuts his more talented brother in half, a scene which is repeated much later in the movie. This, of course is a reference to the scene in “Walk the Line” in which Johnnie Cash's brother is killed in a sawmill accident. Dewey's father keeps repeating the same line through the rest of the film about how the wrong son died, even though it wasn't funny the first time.

We follow Dewey's meteoric rise to fame with the aid of Orthodox Jewish record producers (the film doesn't back away from racial and ethnic jokes). Dewey becomes addicted to drugs, gets divorced and goes through the usual trials one sees in most musical biopics. He even goes to India to meditate with the Beatles (the Beatles impersonators were amusing). The film goes through the motions of a satire with numerous references to pop music history, but remains flaccid throughout. I think part of the problem is that Dewey Cox is such a self-centered knuckle head that it is hard to identify with him or to have much sympathy for him. To be sure, he is a pathetic creature, but one who combines a fair amount of ego and stupidity. The commercial failure of this film is a lot less surprising than the praise it received from a number of movie critics. It rates a C.

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Copyright © 2008 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
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