The Rocker (Born to Rock Edition) (2008)

Rainn Wilson plays Robert Fishman---"Fish"---the left-behind drummer for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame big hair band Vesuvius, who was dumped just as the band got its first real break.

Fish spends the next twenty years working 9 to 5 and brooding over his bandmates' betrayal. He never touches a drum kit again until his teenaged nephew, in a band called Attention Deficit Disorder, begs him to fill in for the band's absent drummer.

Fish agrees. He gives the lead singer, Timothy Geiger, a few new arrangements and some lyrics, and within months, A.D.D. is the biggest act around with a hit record and a national tour. Although Fish quickly readopts his hardcore rocker lifestyle, his young bandmates act as a sea anchor, calming him somewhat.

All is well until the band's manager convinces Geiger to dump "the dinosaur," and Fish finds himself once again relegated to the bargain bin. But A.D.D. is not Vesuvius, and they quickly lose momentum without their sparkplug. Although begged to return, at first Fish is embittered, especially when he discovers that A.D.D. is to be the opening act for Vesuvius's world tour. But in the end, his love for his young bandmates overcomes all.

This is a fine, fun, and goodnatured film in the vein of SCHOOL OF ROCK, and is well worth a bowl of popcorn and a Sunday evening.

"Dwight" from The Office fans should find enough Dwight in this film to satisfy. Those of you who can't stand "Dwight" well, you may not find The Rocker experience a great one. The story is amusing enough. Twenty years previously, Fish (Wilson) is the drummer for the band Vesuvius. Good news for the band, a big label wants to sign them. Bad news for Fish, the president of the label has a drummer nephew who will be the band drummer. Fish never gets over this slight. As the band Vesuvius grows in popularity, Fish grows in bitterness. After losing his job, girlfriend and apartment he moves into his sister's attic. His nephew has a garage band with a gig at the prom. They lose their drummer and, well, you can figure it out from here.

Surprisingly clean, there are no sex scenes, the language is tolerable and low-key. However, there is a scene with an angry mother who shares the fact that her son drew a male body part on a female teacher's face....which is a very funny scene, but contains the anatomically correct word several times. There is also a band manager who is very free with come-on's and has a sexually oriented potty mouth. A scene of Fish drumming naked becomes the YouTube hit -The Naked Drummer -and propels the band to popularity. Viewers are treated to a whole lot of naked man rear shots.

The humor level is moderate. Like I said, you probably need to be amused by Dwight to fully appreciate Fish's humor. He has a very unique delivery, sweet blended with doofusy sarcasm/nastiness. There are several amusing one-liners and situations that are laugh out loud including quite a bit of physical humor. Christina Applegate delivers some great sarcastic lines. The writing is good. The songs are easy to listen to and I really liked their sound. Solid friendship, do-the-right thing and forgiveness themes run through the film. Fish is a classic 80's rocker who likes the party scene, including the trashing of hotel rooms. The three younger band members are annoyed with his boorish behavior and that's a nice refreshing change from the usual teen movie.

Buy The Rocker (Born to Rock Edition) (2008) Now

This is such a fun movie that will keep you laughing. I'm glad I decided to give it a try.

Read Best Reviews of The Rocker (Born to Rock Edition) (2008) Here

Yesterday, I had stayed up for 24 hours, and I watched this movie along the way! I thought it was extremely funny and perfect for any teenager who likes Rock 'N Roll. Robert Fishman is kicked out of the band Vesuvius, and for 20 years, he tries to be normal. When is nephew and their band A.D.D. need a drummer, Fish reluctantly agrees. The band is finally given the chance to tour around America. Fish actually becomes friends with his new band members, until they have to play with his old band, Vesuvius. Will they make it to the big time? I highly recommend THE ROCKER!!!

Want The Rocker (Born to Rock Edition) (2008) Discount?

THE ROCKER has been berated by a number of reviewers, one of whom stated something to the effect that Rainn Wilson lacks the substance to carry off his lead role. As a 40+-year rock veteran, I respectfully disagree.

OK. So I disagree, and I'm NOT really respectful. What do you want? This is a fun film, meant to entertain, not to ride the red line on the raunch scale. If you want a "rocker education," read the book I'm writing on real rock road travel in the '70s and '80s. Jack Kerouac couldn't cut it, folks. By 1974, he'd have bailed out the side door of our red, unairconditioned Dodge Maxi-Van halfway between Memphis and Tunica, Mississippi, heading down Highway 61. No Beat Generation road novel can capture what it was really like to wear the changes of the 1960s and gypsy your way through the '70s into position as "Top Band at The Varsity Club, just off Cherry Street in Helena, Arkansas."

But Fish gets it. Wilson's performance in THE ROCKER embodies a sort of "blood knowledge," if you'll pardon my quoting D. H. Lawrence, of a musician's paying dues with back-breaking work, too little sleep, way too much beer, and still loving it. Trust me. In the rock business, you never "work at nothing all day."

Spending years as a rock musician doesn't lead one to grow up, either. My former band mates? We Facebook. We're all still "Fish" in one way or another.

As THE ROCKER, Wilson captures the essence of Fish--of all of us--and brings him to life. Let's not forget: THE ROCKER is a comedy. Never growing up? That's more in the tragedy line, but THE ROCKER addresses this magical Peter Pan stance, which few of us rock vets ever lose. We're all crazy, and Rainn Wilson renders that mostly harmless insanity into something that even I can laugh at. As one of my former mates always said of us rockers, "There's one good thing about being crazy. You never have to worry about losing your mind!" Fish is THERE.

My only complaint about the "Born to Rock" edition is its exclusion of the complete bit with Pete Best. Those few seconds mean a great deal to rockers of my generation. I've seen the out-take, and I wish it were at least set up as an a bonus feature on this DVD. Even without that option, THE ROCKER: "Born to Rock Edition" still earns its full five stars.

No, you won't find authentic rock word choice in this film. You won't find the outrageous practical jokes bands play on each other just because they can. THE ROCKER is not an X-rated venture into that world. It's a comedy. Remember the theatrical mask with the smile?

If you're so slick that you're too hip to sit back and have a laugh with THE ROCKER, you might benefit from knowing that not all the musical "big fish" (pun intended) are decent players, singers, or songwriters. Thousands of bar bands blast some of these acts off the stage. Sure, the business is a "not what you do, but whom you know" operation. Then again, sometimes you're too good not to be noticed. These issues, too, are addressed in THE ROCKER. Me? I was ahead of my time. Doesn't matter. I'm still rocking. I'm still kicking butt. I'll never grow up, and I'll never have to worry about losing my mind.

Yes, the real world, for real rockers, is "soul-crushing." THE ROCKER lifts that weight, even if only for a little while. Every performer in THE ROCKER does his/her share of that lifting. Let go and laugh. You'll feel better. And if you're not a rocker, Rainn Wilson offers you a thoroughly entertaining armchair roadtrip--no dues required.

A. Long

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