WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY

US, 2007, 95 minutes, Colour.
John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Raymond J.Barry, Margo Martindale, Kristin Wiig, Harold Ramis, Frankie Muniz, Ed Helms, Jane Lynch, Simon Helberg, Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovett, Jack Black, Paul Fike, Morgan Fairchild, John Michael Higgins, Jonah Hill, Justin Long, Cheryl Ladd, Paul Rudd.
Directed by Jake Kasdan.

This is a movie spoof but a spoof with a difference. It is better than most.

While watching those funny Leslie Nielsen send-ups of all kinds of genres (Repossessed, Spy Hard…) or the hit and miss, often crass, Scary Movie or Epic Movie series, a nagging question recurs. Would this have been better if the makers took the spoofing more seriously and produced an intelligent parody? And, if they had actors of substance, would that make a difference to the quality of the send-up.

Walk Hard provides the answer: yes.

Of course, it has a solid basis in the biopic of Johnny Cash, Walk the Line. The plot of Walk Hard follows Walk the Line with quite some attention to detail. However, with John C. Reilly as Dewey Cox, the film has a first-rate actor who can do the serious as well as the comic and makes a good fist of the serio-comic, earning himself a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical.

The film also has its absurd moments, especially when Dewey cuts his brother in half with a machete and has a heartfelt conversation with the torso. But, the absurdities of the life and career of a country and western star, the women, the drugs, the self-absorption, also get the serio-comic treatment.

Jenna Fischer is the equivalent of June Carter. Raymond J. Barry as Dewey’s unforgiving father and Margo Martindale as his doting mother have good roles.

Reilly did all his own singing, which is also creditable – and the title song also earned a Golden Globe nomination.

Those audiences who wanted a kind of Scary Movie comedy were disappointed – but Walk Hard has something to say as well as something to make us smile.

1. American songs, the range, styles, stories of composers, of performances, of celebrity? Audience interest, knowledge of 20th century composers?

2. The background, the South, the 1930s to the 1950s, pre-rock ‘n’ roll? The parallels with the Johnny Cash story, Walk the Line?

3. A parody, but a serious parody, plate straight? Echoes of Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, the Beatles, the Temptations…? The humour, jokes, irony, spoofs?

4. John C Reilly and his presence, at different ages, at home, performing, his talent, singing, his character in the 20th century arc of the lives of many of the contemporaries? Origins, success, ordinary, on the road, success, temptation, relationships and failures, drugs, rehabilitation? Some kind of finale?

5. Home in Alabama, his parents, the hard father, the soft mother? His friendship with his brother, playing with and eight? Nate and his skills? Dewey and fewer skills? Playing, the bonds, the machete, slicing Nate in half and the comedy of the two halves (and later for his father)? The mother and her grief, the father and his reaction, “the wrong kid died�?

6. Dewey at school, with the 14-year-old’s, as played by Riley? Music, the concert, his abilities, the band, his mother supportive? His father scowling?

7. Edith, her age, young, liking Dewey, the bond between them, the marriage, the many children? The touch of caricature? Are always commenting about his not succeeding? More kids, at home, work, Dewey’s absences?

8. Due in his job, cleaning at the club? The singer, the clientele? Dewey and his admiration? The singer, unable to perform, Dewey offering to step in, playing the songs, the reference to Negroes, everybody getting up and dancing? To success?

9. The Jewish scouts, Jewish humour, their presence, their arrangements, appearing later, produces, the records? And one of the sons coming later to combine Dewey songs with rap?

10. The members of the band, Sam, loyalties, yet you are always finding him in a room with the women, the variety of drugs, building up from marijuana to cocaine to heroine, to speed? The other members of the group, working with Dewey, the ultimate clash with him and leaving? Everybody reuniting for the life award?

11. Walk Hard, the lyrics, the melody, the success, the spoof of the adoring fans, the girls? The role of the band?

12. Dewey and his contemporary celebrities, the encounter with Elvis Presley, the later meeting and discussion with the Beatles, The Temptations and others singing at the award night?

13. The pressure on Dewey, his age, Darlene at her arrival, the attraction, the audition, singing, the relationship at her always hesitating before kissing, the tensions for Dewey? The effect on Darlene? At home, his two marriages, Darlene and Edith meeting and their reactions?

14. Dewey’s mother, always supportive, pride, listening on the radio, dancing with husband, tripping, falling and dying? His father seeking him out, his attitude, a possible reconciliation, but Dewey putting his foot in it – the wrong kid died?

15. Dewey, his erratic behaviour, his defences on the drugs, his drug-filled behaviour? Darlene? Is going to rehabilitation, the traumatising and visuals of the effect on cold turkey?

16. His mad period, convinced it should write a masterpiece, his idea, taking so much time, everybody against him, his agent, friendship and support, but warning him against this? Everybody leaving him?

17. Retirement, the encounter with his son, playing catch, the number of kids, multiracial…?

18. Old age, Edith, settling down, retiring with the family, enjoying the family?

19. The news of the tribute, the award? The opening of the film and is thinking about his life and the resumption for the award?

20. Nate reappearing during the film, challenging Dewey, the comparisons?

21. The performance, his mother and father, his brother appearing, the death of his agent and his appearing dead on stage as well?

22. The acclaim, the song, the supporting acts, the tributes, Edith, the children?

23. The information that he died within three minutes?

24. As film experience, plate straight but tongue-in-cheek, of the popular music world in the US during the 20th century?