Apatow's "Walk Hard"

I take a deep breath every time I click on a story on MTV.com, because I know what a groaning pain in the ass it is to wait for all the slick-ass visual razmatazz to load. But I did it anyway today because I wanted to read about Judd Apatow's (and Jake Kasdan's) Walk Hard, a put-on musical biopic in the vein of Ray, Walk the Line, Selena and Great Balls of Fire. It's about a fake music-industry giant called Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly), and I'll tell you right now it's going to be obvious and arch and not terribly funny, and the songs aren't going to be all that hot either.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 13, 2007 at 5:45 PM

comment #1

alynch Author Profile Page says ...

hates judd apatow, hates joss whedon, hates j.j. abrams. i'm starting to think jeff has it in for TV people for some reason.

Posted by alynch Author Profile Page at February 13, 2007 6:00 PM

comment #2

Geoff Author Profile Page says ...

I wonder what Jeff thinks of those Knocked Up trailers floating around?

Posted by Geoff Author Profile Page at February 13, 2007 6:18 PM

comment #3

Sean Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff has never ever said a good thing about any comedy which was shot in color. (I originally was going to say any comedy full-stop, but I remembered he does like 'Some Like It Hot', and I assume he likes 'Strangelove'.)

And he never will!

That said, I love Apatow as a writer director, not so much as a producer, and am not a big fan of Kasdan.

Posted by Sean Author Profile Page at February 13, 2007 7:10 PM

comment #4

JD Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff, you're "obvious and arch and not terribly funny." Go rent Freaks & Geeks and Zero Effect. It's time for a wake-up call.

Posted by JD Author Profile Page at February 13, 2007 7:12 PM

comment #5

Dan Revill Author Profile Page says ...

I think it sounds like a good time in the theater. The musical biopic is due for a good parody. Apatow is right, they all seem to follow the same story structure these days.

Posted by Dan Revill Author Profile Page at February 13, 2007 8:10 PM

comment #6

breadlymoore Author Profile Page says ...

"The musical biopic is due for a good parody."

There was one. I believe it was called "Walk the Line."

Posted by breadlymoore Author Profile Page at February 13, 2007 9:17 PM

comment #7

corey3rd Author Profile Page says ...

didn't SCTV do all this with Gimme Jackie?

I'm still confused about Tom Cruise and Ben Stiller are playing the grown up Hardy Boys since I thought that was the premise of Simon & Simon.

Posted by corey3rd Author Profile Page at February 13, 2007 10:19 PM

comment #8

Malone Author Profile Page says ...

ZERO EFFECT might be the most underrated movie of the last ten years.

It might be the best post-modern debut directorial effort after Tarantino, The Coens, and Soderbergh.

Posted by Malone Author Profile Page at February 13, 2007 10:48 PM

comment #9

Terry McCarty Author Profile Page says ...

Liked ZERO EFFECT too. Didn't like ORANGE COUNTY as much. Didn't young Jake make a third film about the TV biz which screened at the L.A. Festival last summer?

Posted by Terry McCarty Author Profile Page at February 13, 2007 11:46 PM

comment #10

PanTheFaun Author Profile Page says ...

"The TV Set"-- opening in NY/LA April 6th. Caught it at least year's Tribeca filmfest. Not quite as biting as it should be, but it's pretty strong satire, with a very funny performance from Sigourney Weaver, and it was nice to see Duchovny in a leading role again.

Posted by PanTheFaun Author Profile Page at February 14, 2007 5:59 AM

comment #11

Jesse Perry Author Profile Page says ...

Has anyone here ever intentionally laughed at anything Jeff has said? Why does his opinion on comedy matter? Wells' joke-telling abilities are distinctly mezzo-mezzo.

(I also recall Jeff posting a comment I made in the past praising James Franco's quality work on Freaks and Geeks. I thought he posted it in agreement, but the ways of the Gruver are mysterious.)

Posted by Jesse Perry Author Profile Page at February 14, 2007 7:49 AM

comment #12

jesse Author Profile Page says ...

I agree with all who have praised ZERO EFFECT, a terrific movie that remains underseen.

The (very mild) trepidation I have about WALK HARD has nothing to do with its comedic potential -- I trust Apatow and Kasdan, Reilly can be very funny as he proved in Talladega and his SNL hosting stint (and Boogie Nights, for that matter), and Pam from The Office is in it. I only find it the slightest bit disheartening because of how damn good ZERO EFFECT is and my high expectations for Kasdan. ORANGE COUNTY is a decent comedy, smarter than most aimed at that age level, but by no means does it fulfill the ZERO promise. THE TV SET sounds good but a bit minor -- I'm sure Kasdan knows that TV-industry world inside and out, and I'll be happy to see Duchovny as the lead in something (presumably) better than Trust the Man... but it sounds like an amusing diversion. And now he's doing a broad comedy, which is fine, but I hope it's not a hardcore spoof and has its own sensibility (sort of like Shaun of the Dead -- even though I don't love it as much as some do -- which is sort of half parody, half its own thing). I'm sure Apatow and Kasdan wouldn't come out with something like EPIC MOVIE or whatever, but Kasdan seems so talented that I'd like to see more hybrid fare along the lines of ZERO EFFECT in his future.

Posted by jesse Author Profile Page at February 14, 2007 8:28 AM

comment #13

Dave Polands Gut Author Profile Page says ...

mtv.com?

u got a death wish? have you ever been to a worse, more superflous site ever?

Posted by Dave Polands Gut Author Profile Page at February 14, 2007 8:54 AM

comment #14

Ju-osh Author Profile Page says ...

Using newspapers to relay information = Old Media

Using words like "visual razmatazz" on a blog = Old Man struggling to henna his way into New Media

Posted by Ju-osh Author Profile Page at February 14, 2007 9:16 AM

comment #15

lesterg Author Profile Page says ...

"Jeff has never ever said a good thing about any comedy which was shot in color"

I don't know, I seem to remember column after column about how great "Rat Race" was.

Posted by lesterg Author Profile Page at February 14, 2007 10:04 AM

comment #16

The Movie Man Author Profile Page says ...

THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN was a little over the top, but I thought it was a very funny and humane comedy, especially for something that actually made money. (Not to sound like Jeff, but the big hits are getting worse and worse these days. It seems basic, uncluttered entertainment value is now speciality filmmaking, but I digress.) Apatow's work in TV shows such as THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW, FREAKS AND GEEKS, and, to a lesser extent, UNDECLARED is memorable and very funny and attentive to character.

ZERO EFFECT is a very dry and appealing little sleeper (and the all time best use of Bill Pullman). ORANGE COUNTY was annoying.

Posted by The Movie Man Author Profile Page at February 14, 2007 11:12 AM

comment #17

Me Author Profile Page says ...

I just wanted to add on to the whoe ZERO EFFECT love. Absolutely wonderful movie that my roommates and I quoted all throughout college.

Anyone ever see the tv pilot for ZERO EFFECT?

Posted by Me Author Profile Page at February 14, 2007 11:49 AM

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