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Released 17th October 2008
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Slow off the starting block on big laughs — more like a few sniggers — Peter Cattaneo’s new comedy, starring geeky funny guy, Rainn Wilson, as failed rocker, Fish, gradually heats up, draws you in, and overpowers you with warm, fuzzy, feel-good vibes and a healthy dollop of optimism. Opportunity really can knock twice, if you’re open to hearing it, that is.
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Admittedly, the comedy value is a little flat at the start, with the film-makers grasping for laughs with repeat ‘head-hitting-beam’ gags and the token, immature vomit moment expected in all high-school-related flicks. However, like the moral of the story, don’t give up on this film as its full potential gradually matures after the adult Fish and his high-school band members unintentionally find fame on the Internet — appealing to the YouTube and tech-savvy audience. This is where the film takes off as we go on tour with the band, experiencing their highs and lows and all the standard adolescent problems (poor self-esteem, girl troubles etc). Fish becomes a multi-faceted character as band mate, uncle, mentor and surrogate father figure. He finds his value in life, whilst living the ultimate dream. This is the biggest ego boost for him, and quite an uplifting character development to witness. Some adults might find Fish’s endeavours to be quite childish, but when compared to the band’s sleazy record company manager, David Marshall (played by Jason Sudeikis), Fish wins hands down in the maturity stakes, after Marshall’s schoolboy comment to band member Curtis’s mum, played by Christina Applegate: “I’d love to spend nine months in you” (‘ha ha’). There will not be an adult out there who doesn’t sympathise with wanting one last stab at ‘the dream’. If anything, this is what you take away from this endearing comedy: hope.
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A feel-good comedy with lashings of healthy optimism: Just keep on dreaming!
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By Lisa Keddie
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Synopsis
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Academy Award Nominee Peter Cattaneo returns to cinemas with The Rocker; a hilarious comedy about a failed drummer who is given a second chance at fame.
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Rainn Wilson (The Office, An American Workplace; Juno) stars as Robert ‘Fish’ Fishman - the extremely dedicated and astoundingly passionate drummer for the eighties hair band Vesuvius, who is living the rock ‘n’ roll dream until he is unceremoniously kicked out of the band. Twenty years after his rock star fantasies are destroyed, just when Fish has given up all hope, he hears that his nephew’s high school rock band A.D.D. is looking for a new drummer. They reluctantly make him the newest member of the band, giving him the chance to reclaim the rock God throne he always thought he deserved.
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Starring alongside Wilson as the members of A.D.D. are recording artist Teddy Geiger, Emma Stone (The House Bunny; Superbad) and Josh Gad (21). The ensemble cast also includes Christina Applegate, Jason Sudeikis, Will Arnett and Jane Lynch.
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Film Facts
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Official UK site: http://www.therockermovie.co.uk/
UK release date: 17th October 2008
Director: Peter Cattaneo
Writers: Maya Forbes, Wallace Wolodarsky
Cast: Rainn Wilson (‘Robert ‘Fish’ Fishman’), Christina Applegate (‘Kim’), Teddy Geiger (‘Curtis’), Josh Gad (‘Matt Gadman’), Emma Stone (’Amelia’), Jane Lynch (‘Lisa’), Jason Sudeikis (‘David Marshall’)
UK Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Certificate: 12A
Run-time: TBC
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Video on Real.com
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Trailer:
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REAL EXCLUSIVE: Rainn Wilson Interview:
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FOUR CLIPS:
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