By Debbie Schlussel
Normally, I’m not a fan of Rainn Wilson (“Dwight” on TV’s “The Office”), but he’s extremely funny in the equally funny, “The Rocker,” in theaters today. This movie is a lot of fun, even if it lags a bit from the middle and toward the end. Some critics are saying it doesn’t compare to “School of Rock,” and while it’s a takeoff on that, I liked this and laughed.
Wilson plays Robert “Fish” Fishman, drummer for the ’80s hair band, “Vesuvius.” At the cusp of their success–just as they are about to sign their record deal–Fish is dumped by the band. While they go on to huge success, Fish becomes a bitter loser, unable to hold a job and relegated to sleeping in the attic of his married sister’s house.
Fish’s high school-aged nephew’s band is in need of a drummer for their gig at the high school prom. And Fish gets the gig. Soon, he turns their band into a “Jonas Brothers”-style hit after sending out promo tapes to bars and clubs . . . and after his niece posts a video on YouTube, which Fish unknowingly shot of himself playing the drums naked.

I don’t buy Christina Applegate as a mom of a high schooler (even though she’s technically of that age). And the movie has some stupid, bathroom humor-style jokes. But mostly it’s extremely funny. The movie’s makers get the ’80s hair band parody stuff right. That part is the best of the movie and should have been expanded. The rest seems sort of aimed at teens.
Last month, Rainn Wilson was in Detroit promoting the movie. I didn’t get the fascination with this geek until I saw him in this movie. Really funny and well played. Still, I didn’t need to know that he thought of faces he makes while having sex to get the “I’m playing drums face” in the movie. Three letters, Rainn: T-M-I.
Overall, a very funny movie with a kinda weak, mushy middle. It’s not a great movie. But it’s entertaining enough.
TWO REAGANS