Rocker, The (2008)

The premise of The Rocker sounds like a movie Jack Black turned down. A 40 something former drummer for an 80's hair band ends up broke, living in his sister's attic before ending up playing drums for his nephews band. It reads like a sequel to School of Rock, with a few minor tweaks. The Rocker doesn't star Jack Black however but Rainn Phoenix, from TV's The Office.

Even though the premise sets him up for failure, Phoenix aquits himself well in the shadow of JB, and gives  a good time rocking performance.

22 years ago Vesuvius was a band on the verge of major label success and their drummer, Robert 'Fish' Fishman about live his rock star dream. The success came but not for Robert who the band dropped in favor of the label owners nephew. Robert spent the 22 years a bitter mess, working as an office drone, longing to recapture the glory of rock. 

After losing his job Robert is forced to move in with his sister (Jane Lynch), her husband (Jeff Garlin) and his nephew Matt (Josh Gad). Matt is in a band and in a not so surprising twist of plot, the band just lost their drummer, two days before their first gig, playing the prom. Matt's bandmates, brooding singer Curtis (Teddy Geiger) and female bassist Amelia (Emma Stone, Superbad), want to find a more age appropriate drummer but Matt pushes for uncle Fish.

Though he nearly blows the prom gig, Fish turns out to be a great drummer and a strong positive influence on the band. When a youtube video of Fish playing drums naked gets the band's music heard by millions, stardom comes knocking and Fish has the kind of second chance that doesn't come around very often.

The Rocker has a strict adherence to convention that is really the antithesis of rock n' roll. The film proceeds from one plot point to the next like clockwork. If you can't predict every step of this movie from beginning to end you are not trying. Director Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty) directing a script by former Simpsons scribe Wallace Wolodarsky and Maya Forbes; move the undistinguished screenplay from paper to screen with little innovation or invention.

All of the success of The Rocker lies in the performance of Rainn Phoenix and lucky we are that he is up to the challenge. Phoenix's Rocker is sloppy and dull witted but he's also sweet, funny and earnestly committed to the life and love of being a rock star. He genuinely cares about the kids in the band and despite his excesses is a positive force.

Phoenix's performance plays well with the overall familiarity of the plot, making the predictability easier to take because the vibe is so congenial. The Rocker is so gentle and feather light that it floats by. 88 minutes is really all this plot could sustain and the filmmakers were smart not to let the movie linger. As much as we like Phoenix's performance, by the end we are ready to say goodbye. 

Another smart decision by the makers of The Rocker was hiring Chad Fischer to write the music for the film. Often a movie about musicians will skimp on the music. The pop tunes of The Rocker, sung by star Teddy Geiger, are really good pop tunes, songs you can believe would become top ten radio hits. If the film is a hit don't be surprised to hear a song like Tomorrow Never Comes or Bitter to make a radio splash.

Final

The Rocker is annoyingly formulaic but star Rainn Phoenix and the music of Teddy Geiger and Chad Fischer keep it from becoming tedious. Phoenix is a star on the rise and has a bright future as a goofball leading man. See The Rocker for Phoenix and stay for the surprisingly strong pop tunes of Geiger and Fischer. Yes, you will see every turn of plot coming, but Phoenix at the very least will keeping you smiling through the predictability.