The Rocker (2008)

The Rocker tells the story of a failed drummer who is given a second chance at fame. Robert "Fish" Fishman is the extremely dedicated and astoundingly passionate drummer for the eighties ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Cattaneo

Writers:

Maya Forbes (screenplay), Wallace Wolodarsky (screenplay),

Stars:

Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Teddy Geiger

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rainn Wilson	...	Fish
Christina Applegate	...	Kim
Teddy Geiger	...	Curtis
Josh Gad	...	Matt
Emma Stone	...	Amelia
Jeff Garlin	...	Stan
Jane Lynch	...	Lisa
Jason Sudeikis	...	David Marshall
Will Arnett	...	Lex
Howard Hesseman	...	Gator
Fred Armisen	...	Kerr
Bradley Cooper	...	Trash
Lonny Ross	...	Sticks
Jon Glaser	...	Billy (as Jonathan Glaser)
Jane Krakowski	...	Carol

Storyline

The Rocker tells the story of a failed drummer who is given a second chance at fame. Robert "Fish" Fishman is the extremely dedicated and astoundingly passionate drummer for the eighties hair band Vesuvius, who is living the rock n' roll dream until he is unceremoniously kicked out of the band. Twenty years after his rock star fantasies are destroyed, just when Fish has finally given up all hope, he hears that his nephew's high school rock band A.D.D. is looking for a new drummer. They reluctantly make him the newest member of the band, giving him a chance to reclaim the rock God throne he's always thought he deserved, and taking the young band along for the ride of their lives.

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Plot Keywords:

drummer | rock star | rock band | t shirt | living in an attic | 

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Taglines:

Some talents should stay hidden

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for drug and sexual references, nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Twentieth Century Fox [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 August 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un rockero de locura

Filming Locations:

Cinespace Film Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£217,745 (UK) (17 October 2008)

Gross:

£217,745 (UK) (17 October 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Atomic, 21 Laps Entertainment, Rocan Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Some of the scenes were filmed in Toronto, Canada (not actually Ohio). The Chinatown scene was filmed on Spadina street in Toronto's Asian district. One of the earliest club scenes when they exit the gig and into a back alley to a limo, was filmed in and outside an all ages club downtown called the Reverb.

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Goofs

When Fish is dumped by his girlfriend at the beginning, he walks to his sister's house to crash, and he is shown walking North past the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to get there. Not only is there no residential area in that direction, but if he walked just a little bit further, he would walk right into Lake Erie, as the Rock Hall is on the Erie shore.

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Quotes

Curtis: [sings really depressing lyrics to a song he just wrote]
Robert 'Fish' Fishman: Wow... Well there's some cyanide and razorblades in the glovebox so feel free to help yourself!

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Connections

References Quack-a-Doodle Do (1950)

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Soundtracks

"Nobody's Fool"
Written by Tom Keifer (as Thomas Keifer)
Performed by Cinderella
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

The Rocker has a really funny beginning, even the middle is fun, but the conclusion was horrible

I don't know why, from the trailer I didn't really want to see The Rocker, it looked like another silly teenage comedy, but I had the opportunity to see it for free and decided to go ahead and give it a fair chance. So I saw it yesterday and honestly, I thought it was a pretty decent comedy, much better than I expected. But it fell flat and became a predictable movie, I don't mind them every once in a while, but this story could have had a better ending that surprised us all. I love Rainn Wilson, ever since I saw him way back in House of 1000 Corpses, I just thought something strange stood out about this guy, he eventually became bigger in the hit TV show The Office. He's now the new male lead in a comedy, now he's decent, he did make me laugh like crazy in a lot of his scenes, but I think he could have held his own a little better, he's good, but he's not great as a leading comedic actor.

He plays Fish, a drummer for a rock band that later goes platinum after kicking him out. His life as an adult isn't so great, the band is doing very well even 20 years later. Fish moves in with his sister, his nephew asks him to play drums in his band when their drummer can't play with them any more, but later Fish gets in trouble with his sister and can't live with her any more. But his nephew sets up a way through the internet and camera's, but when Fish doesn't know the camera is filming him naked, a new internet era is born of the Naked Drummer. ADD, the band he's playing with his nephew, becomes huge and fame takes a tole on the kids as well as Fish's old age.

Now over all, I did like The Rocker, I think it's worth a matinée price, it's a fun and silly comedy that gives you a few good laughs. Mainly by Rainn Wilson, I couldn't help but laugh hysterically when he finds out the band is kicking him out and he jumps on the van that they're driving away in and is holding on by his drum sticks, sounds stupid, but when you see the look on his face, it reminds you of The Terminator 2: Judgement Day with the T-1000. Like I said, the ending flops a bit though, I think they could have done something different, but it's a good movie for laughs. Like I said if you want to see it in the theater, I'd recommend the matinée, but otherwise it's just a rental.

6/10