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Walking the Line between Parody and Reality: Walk Hard Reviewed

Writer's picture: Polly PreviewsPolly Previews

4 Star Rating by Polly Previews

4 STAR RATING


 SPOILER ALERT



A Review of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story by Polly Previews

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is a 2007 parody music biopic, which when reviewed, reminds me of Daisy Jones & The Six. Watching it in 2024, when there are loads of feature films re-enacting the lives of artists like Elvis Presley and Elton John, is quite interesting.


There are references which validate the band's existence within our reality and the idea that this is a documentary, such as conversations with The Beatles when they were younger, and moments which bear great, although comical, resemblance to Bohemian Rhapsody, a film based on Freddie Mercury and the band Queen.


A Review of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story by Polly Previews

It also has made me aware of just how many nostalgic movies, songs, and concerts are taking over right now. It's almost as if everyone has woken up and yearned for the recent past. Bands like AC/DC are touring Europe in 2024 to celebrate their 50th anniversary, which may also be the last time as they are in their 70s, so you can see why the film feels even more relevant today.


Walk Hard mocks every detail about the portrayal of rockstar icons, which glorifies a toxic and drug-fuelled lifestyle. It follows the classic rockstar timeline of leaving home young, settling down in a small town with a wife and kids, then after some short-term struggle, he becomes globally famous, cheats on the road and abandons his family, which leads to a drug and sex addiction, then pushing people away and hitting rock bottom, to finally a big story of redemption.


A Review of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story by Polly Previews


Silly little moments like the type of drugs they were taking also reflected the stages in their life added to the continuous thread of humour and irony, from weed as teenagers to erectile dysfunction in their 70s, they are seriously hilarious moments from Tim Meadows as Sam. The director Jake Kasdan knew exactly when to make the scenes play out just that little bit too long and what seemingly small detail to exaggerate to the fullest.


John C. Reilly plays the part very well, his voice beautifully blends into the eras of music, and is quite frankly, exceptional. Although I wasn't expecting much else after a glimpse at his voice within Chicago.


A Review of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story by Polly Previews

This is a tale we see a lot in both real life via the news, social media and on the TV screen in documentaries or semi-scripted reality shows, but also in feature films of real life and fictional music legends. But no matter how we receive this tale, it is often the same self-fulfilling prophecy and legacy of self-destruction. Walk Hard is quite an unexpectedly funny take on how reality and fiction reflect the same narrative, the absurdity of fame. It is hard to separate fact or fiction when it comes to the infamous rockstar lifestyle.


A Review of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story by Polly Previews

Walk Hard shows us that it can take your whole life to make a masterpiece, but it's "a beautiful ride". Your legacy becomes how you right your wrongs, not just the messy parts in the middle. Showing up for his family and staying sober was Dewey Cox's redemption. He, quite literally, woke up and smelt the roses.

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