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Reviews

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Easy jokes? Absolutely

By BRETT MICHEL | December 19, 2007

3.0 Stars

WALK HARD: John C. Reilly charms.

“Life made him tough. Love made him strong. Music made him hard.” His name? Dewey Cox. Easy jokes? Absolutely. But under the direction of Jake Kasdan (The TV Set) and the guiding hand of his producer and co-writer, Judd Apatow (Knocked Up and Superbad), this send-up of Walk the Line, Ray, and damn near every musical bio-pic ever made swings for the fences and makes it at least to third. Granted, we’re talking softball, but when John C. Reilly is your pitcher, you’re halfway to the pennant. Reilly’s Cox is an addled charmer who never met a drug he didn’t become addicted to –– prodded on by long-time bandmate Sam, gamely played by Tim Meadows (“Don’t do it!”) –– and then kick, or a hole he didn’t fuck. (Was that a penis on screen?) He also has no sense of smell, though that didn’t get in the way of his musical gifts. After all, he learned how to play “by ear.” Stupid? Sure, but laced with a strange sense of logic, like the gag that follows the end credits . . . 98 minutes | Boston Common + Fenway + Fresh Pond + Circle/Chestnut Hill + suburbs

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