Frequently hilarious send-up of music biopics; Reilly is a game taskmaster

Rating: 7/10 (7 January 2008)

WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY (2007) **1/2 John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows, Kristen Wiig, Raymond J. Barry, Margo Martindale, Chip Hormess, Chris Parnell, Matt Besser, David Krumoltz, Harold Ramis, Martin Starr, Jack McBrayer, Paul Feig, Frankie Muniz, Jack White, John Michael Higgins, Justin Long, Paul Rudd, Jason Schwartzman, Jack Black, Jonah Hill (as themselves: Eddie Vedder, Lyle Lovett, The Temptations, Jackson Browne, Ghostface Killah, Jewel) Frequently hilarious take-off of musical biopics ala "RAY" and "WALK THE LINE" with Reilly in fine Will Ferrell mode as the titular rocking doofus who manages to sustain a 50 year career with each era mocked to the fullest and with tongue-though-cheek aplomb thanks to the talents of producer/writer Judd Apatow and co-scribe/director Jake Kasdan although the hit-and-miss ratio is more the latter, none-the-less Reilly's gameness for every outrageous task is played to the uproarious hilt.