John C and Laugh Hard

Rating: 8/10 (25 December 2007)

3/4ths of this movie is some of the best movie-making you'll see all year and the 1/4th that isn't (the 3rd quarter post-Beatles part) doesn't sink it because it ends on a high note.
John C. Reilly is close to spectacular in the title role. Jake Kasdan, Judd "what-a-year-he-has-had" Apatow, the supporting cast (including a slew of great cameos) and especially the people responsible for the songs have crafted an almost too-smart-for-its-own-good satire of popular music since Bill Haley and music movie bios (which I've never been a fan of).
When this comedy works it is as good as BOB ROBERTS (without the dread that some pol someday won't adopt that character as a blueprint for running a campaign someday --maybe Barack already has sans the guitar and the conservative fascism --and, please, don't tell that there is no such thing as liberal fascism --just google David Geffen) and THANK YOU FOR SMOKING (without it political acuteness).
The crazy thing about this movie is that I can't wait to buy the music CD from it. The songs are superbly crafted and they are funnier than hell. "Let's Duet" is as dirty as Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac" and it is a bit more obvious.
WARNING: this movie earns its R-rating for the right reasons.