The Rocker – Born To Rock Edition (2008/Fox Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B Extras: C Film: C
With Jack
Black being the post-Rock symbol of how the Rock Music genre lives in
mainstream media, it was inevitable someone would try to imitate or follow his
commercial success in that mode. Rainn
Wilson (of the U.S. TV version of The
Office) becomes his separated-at-birth cousin (or something) in Peter
Catteneo’s rather formulaic comedy The
Rocker (2008) with Wilson as the drummer who is thrown out of his band
(looking like Motley Crüe) before they hit paydirt.
Two
decades later, he is stuck in a bad, boring job as they continue (even against
the decline of the genre?) to have hits and he may just get that second chance
at Rock glory he was denied back in the hair band days if he plays his cards
right. It is not a very funny film,
though Rock fans will find a few giggles in it all, but the sad thing is that
it feels like a second-rate School Of
Rock with the teen cast, heart and soul removed. It never really works and the screenplay
needed to come up with more than the obvious, but never does. Wilson has talent, but this never gives
anyone the best opportunity to show their range and though Christina Applegate
is a plus, The Rocker spends most of
its time avoiding disaster instead of taking off.
The 1080p
1.85 X 1 AVC @ 28 MBPS digital High Definition image looks a little better than
expected with good detail and color more often than not, some good depth and
that is definitely thanks to the great Director of Photography Anthony B.
Richmond, A.S.C./B.S.C. (The Man Who
Fell To Earth) turning in top-rate work for a commercial film like
this. The DTS HD Master Audio (MA)
lossless 5.1 mix easily tops its Dolby Digital English 5.1 version (a rare
inclusion on a Fox title) though the sound is a bit compressed throughout in
the soundmix in general. The DTS reveals
more limits, but still has more warmth and solid sound.
Extras
include a DVD-ROM for Digital Copy that gives you a low-def version of the film
for PC and PC portable devices, while the Blu adds deleted scenes, gag reel,
two feature length audio commentary tracks, three featurettes, several
interview segments (including one with Pete Best), Fox Movie Channel promo
special, “I’m Not Bitter” Music Video and Internet podcasts or more than you
would ever suspect. All of it is for the
most Rock oriented viewers only.
- Nicholas Sheffo
