four and a half stars

Reviewed by Daniel E. Jennis

Johnny Cash’s older brother, Jack, died in 1944 when he was nearly cut in half by a table saw. “Walk Hard”, a parody of recent musical biopics, begins with the death of Dewey Cox’s older brother. This time, the poor kid is literally chopped in half when a friendly machete battle turns deadly. And just like that, “Walk Hard” boldly and hilariously ridicules and overcomes every genre cliché imaginable, creating a rich and over-the-top narrative that encourages both comedic and dramatic success.

John C. Reilly stars as the titular Dewey Cox, a crazy but kind-hearted music legend who must struggle to overcome his guilt for his brother’s death, as well his addiction to drugs and women. In many ways, the story mirrors the dramatic progression that marks “Walk the Line” and “Ray”, but Jake Kasdan, the film’s writer and director, makes sure that the character of Dewey Cox is not just a vehicle for parody.

Reilly, in his first major starring role, does a great job of creating a larger-than-life buffoon who is both hysterical and engaging. Cox has the emotional stability of a bipolar dictator, and Reilly’s spirited destruction of sinks, incredulous verbal assaults, and bizarre half-clothed rampages help to establish a protagonist whose most memorable quality is his insanity. Nevertheless, Reilly also exhibits moments of tenderness and determination that lead to a musical finale that may move some to tears. For a comedic showboat, Dewey Cox is fully-developed and complex. As a result, the film scores on multiple levels.

The movie’s humor is also multi-dimensional and intelligent. Though crude physical comedy is certainly prevalent, Kasdan also uses the convergence of cinema and music in order to ridicule tired conventions in both areas. Highlights include Reilly singing gibberish in the style of Bob Dylan, the most confusing anti-drug speech imaginable, a love scene with choking instead of kissing, and a protest song about the rights of little persons. The humor is broad and almost always successful.

As an added bonus, “Walk Hard” features a score of very good musical numbers. Reilly is a great singer, most of the songs are melodically pleasing, and some of the lyrics are downright hysterical. Incredibly, this film is, in many regards, better than a lot of musical biopics that have been made in the last decade. Factor in the spot-on comedy, and you are looking at a bizarre gem that is a standout in almost any genre.