Smart and Hilarious Slapstick comedy

Rating: 9/10 (13 January 2008)

To be able to appreciate this movie you almost have to be a fan of slapstick comedy which in many ways has been a lost art form recently. If you're not a fan of the slapstick genre (i.e. Airplane, the Naked Gun series, etc.) then you will probably not enjoy this movie as much as someone that does. To be honest, I had my doubts regarding this movie. I was unsure what to expect and did not hear many favorable reviews, but I am very glad I watched it. This was a hilarious movie from start to finish. John C. Reilly was incredible in his portrayal of Dewey Cox and delivered a performance undoubtedly deserving of the Golden Globe nomination he received. Tim Meadows was also great in his supporting role.
Walk Hard delivers especially in its spoofs of the many eras of music from the 1950s to recent times. There are many over-the-top but very funny spoofs of Elvis, the Beatles, and Bob Dylan sprinkled throughout the plot. What makes the movie click is the fact that it does not take itself too seriously. It does not try to be anything else but a comedy. There are times when you may feel sympathy for the Dewey Cox character but usually it's done in a way that keeps its comedic integrity and avoids being a sappy moment. To appreciate the movie you also have to have a decent knowledge of history and the various time periods. If you don't understand how edgy and anti-establishment rock n roll was during the 1950s and early 60s,or know about the counterculture of the late 60s and early 1970s, you won't be in on many of the jokes which are era-specific.
This was a hilarious movie, unfortunately, it bombed in the box office. However, I bet it receives a cult following one day on DVD and may be Comedy Central similar to movies such as Office Space and Kingpin.