Tenacious D Doesn't Rock Your Socks Off

Rating: 7/10 (7 November 2006)

Contrary to what the trailers would have you believe, Tenacious D in 'The Pick of Destiny' is not the greatest movie in the world. It is just a tribute. The new movie, directed by Liam Lynch (Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic) and going into wide release on Nov. 22, is truly a film for the fans of Tenacious D. The movie starts out promising, with a young JB, played by Troy Gentile (who also played a young Jack Black in Nacho Libre), defying his parents and calling to his hero Ronnie James Dio (of Black Sabbath) for help. After this he heads out to Hollywood and by the time he reaches the right one he is already grown up. Here is where the adult JB (Jack Black, King Kong, Saving Silverman) meets the slacker KG (Kyle Gass, Elf) and is initially rejected by KG, who claims to be an accomplished rocker. From this point forward the movie somewhat slowly progresses, with a few funny bits thrown in, as JB and KG become friends and form their band. The funny bits are mostly references to songs off their original CD, so the band's fans will eat it up while others may find the sequences stupid or pointless. After a lackluster performance at a local club, they discover that all the great bands seemed to have used the same guitar pick, they go to the local music store to investigate. Luckily for them, the music storeowner happens to know everything about the pick, which cannot be purchased anywhere, and gives them information to get them on their way. So the duo set off for the Rock n' Roll History Museum in Sacramento to find the 'Pick of Destiny', a magical guitar pick made from one of Satan's teeth. On the way they break up, JB more interested in getting the pick and KG more interested in attractive co-eds, and JB heads out on his own while KG goes to a Sorority party. When JB is on his own he eats some trippy mushrooms and gets to meet Sasquatch, leading to one of the film's funniest sequences, while KG tries and fails to impress the college girls at the party. After this JB and KG happen to find each other at the Rock n' Roll museum where they search for the pick. Once they are finished there a predictable car chase occurs followed shortly by the climatic showdown between the D and Mephistopheles himself, who has taken a sexual liking to KG. This scene embodies a lot of what the whole movie should've been like, and ends far too quickly. Overall, Tenacious D in 'The Pick of Destiny' seems to be just another mediocre entry into the 'stoner comedy' genre. It lacks a lot of the charm and laughs of the short lived HBO series about Tenacious D, and doesn't ever live up to the rock musical that one would expect from the opening scene. The new music by Tenacious D was definitely a plus, but it would've been nice if they played some of their classics in the film as well. The film also had plenty of cameos by the likes of Ben Stiller, Tim Robbins, and Meatloaf, but most of them didn't add much to the movie. Fans of Tenacious D will appreciate this film, as it gives JB and KG some much needed recognition, but most others will likely find the laughs too few and the plot too stupid to truly appreciate it. Then again, as Tenacious D once said, "it doesn't matter if it is good it only matters if it ROCKS!" The Pick of Destiny definitely fulfills that promise.