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Rocker, The
20th Century Fox


6.9

based on 28 reviews
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based on 15 votes
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MPAA RATING: PG-13 for drug and sexual references, nudity and language

Starring Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Josh Gad, Teddy Geiger, Jane Lynch, Emma Stone, Jason Sudeikis, and Howard Hesseman

The Rocker, aka Robert "Fish" Fishman, was the drummer for an eighties hair band. He was living the rock 'n' roll dream... until he was kicked out of the group. Twenty years later, the desperate rocker joins his nephew's band, "A.D.D.," finally reclaiming the rock-god throne he's always thought he deserved -- while taking his much younger bandmates along for the ride of their lives. (20th Century Fox)

GENRE(S):	Comedy
WRITTEN BY:	Ryan Jaffe Wallace Wolodarsky Maya Forbes
DIRECTED BY:	Peter Cattaneo
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: January 27, 2009 Theatrical: August 20, 2008
RUNNING TIME:	102 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Christian Science Monitor Peter Rainer

Wilson is pretty much the whole show. With nobody else around to steal from, he ends up stealing scenes from himself.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Andy Spletzer

The most surprising thing about The Rocker is how enjoyable it is.

TV Guide Ken Fox

The movie's is really good, clean fun that's fine for slightly older kids and a lot of fun for adults.

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

It's a lot of fun. Its spirit is genuine and, even with the odd vomit gag, fundamentally sweet.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

This familiar scenario works because of well-written and acted characters. The disciplined direction is by Peter Cattaneo, who tackled somewhat similar material in "The Full Monty" a decade ago.

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

Overcomes its essential familiarity thanks to a frequently witty script, grounded direction (by Peter Cattaneo, of "Full Monty" fame) and an engaging turn by its star that proves him more than capable of carrying a comedy feature.

Variety Peter Debruge

Wilson makes the most of it in this well-crafted, feel-good satire.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

The Rocker can be amusingly dopey, with its "Spinal Tap"-ish lampooning of rock idioms - and idiots.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

A grubby little redemption comedy that in every way feels like a consignment-shop Jack Black vehicle.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

Silly, and unashamedly second-hand, the movie is essentially a Jack Black movie without Jack Black, which is, arguably, an improvement.

Wall Street Journal Joanne Kaufman

The Rocker has the requisite vomit, the view of some very unfortunate hind quarters and the suds. It's also got a vein of sweetness and charm.

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

There are plenty of funny moments, as well as a sweet subplot involving the unkempt drummer and the guitarist's no-nonsense mom (Christina Applegate).

Empire Simon Crook

Lightweight but likable.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

Wilson and a loaded supporting cast are never as funny as they should be.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

Too bad it shortchanges the music and fails to provide much evidence for Wilson's appeal.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

The movie is so tepid and inoffensive: It reminded me of a '70s Disney live-action product, with clean-scrubbed "hippies" like Johnny Whitaker chafing harmlessly under the wise ministrations of Suzanne Pleshette, whose job was to keep the kids in hand.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Most disappointingly, the music is tepid, mediocre pop pastiche.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

The Rocker is more disappointing than it is outright bad. One expects something a little fresher from Wilson.

Salon.com James Hannaham

A pleasant but unimpressive experience.

San Francisco Chronicle David Wiegand

You want to like almost everyone in this film, but they're all undone by a weak script.

Los Angeles Times Sam Adams

For the most part, The Rocker is content to simply keep the beat, marking time as the summer movie season moves on.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Wilson works overtime to hold Peter Cattaneo's flimsy comedy together.

New York Magazine David Edelstein

It's depressing when the best thing you can say about a comedy is that its second-rateness is pleasantly in sync with its unmagnetic hero.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

The only brazen thing about the film is how shamelessly it rips off "School of Rock."

Film Threat Don R. Lewis

Not terribly original or funny.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Wilson is buoyed by a sporadically witty script, and while there are no surprises whatsoever in the story, his goofy, puppylike charm renders what could have been a disaster merely an unfortunate event.

Village Voice Robert Wilonsky

This is sugary-sweet stuff--pop instead of rock.

USA Today Claudia Puig

If you're a Rainn Wilson fan, catch a rerun of "The Office."

The average user rating for this movie is 6.9 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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Rocker, The 20th Century Fox

Rocker, The
20th Century Fox