Movie Review: “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”

In one of his rare starring roles, John C. Reilly parodies the lives of both Johnny Cash and Ray Charles in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” a new comedy from Jake Kasdan and Judd Apatow.

Reilly Plays Musician Dewey Cox

After his brother dies in a freak accident, young Dewey Cox dedicates himself to his music. At the tender age of 14, Cox makes his professional debut and becomes an instant sensation, but he still can’t win the love of his father (Raymond J. Barry). No matter how successful he becomes, Mr. Cox keeps reminding Dewey over and over that the wrong son died.

With the money that he’s making with his music, Dewey marries Edith (Kristen Wiig) and starts a family. Unfortunately, he spends quite a bit of time on the road chasing stardom and not enough time at home helping Edith take care of the kids.

Jenna Fischer (“The Office”) Plays Dewey’s Version of June Carter Cash

A man gets lonely on the road while he’s performing and Dewey is no exception. During one of his tours, Dewey teams up with Darlene Madison (Fischer), a pretty young singer who refuses to get physical with Dewey until they get married.

Dewey Cox Gives in to Temptation

In addition to pretty women, concert tours offer other temptations, most notably drugs. Throughout his career, Sam (an impressive Tim Meadows), a musician in Dewey’s band, tempts him with the latest drug of choice and it isn’t long before Dewey finds comfort in marijuana and cocaine.

John C. Reilly Turns in an Impressive Musical Performance

For most of his cinematic career, John C. Reilly has established himself as both a strong supporting player and a solid second banana. At times, it seems as if Reilly prefers to stand in the shadows of performers like George Clooney (“The Perfect Storm”) or Renee Zellweger (“Chicago”).

In 2004, Reilly finally proved that he could carry a movie in the drama “Criminal” and he does an even better job in “Walk Hard.” It’s safe to say that Dewey Cox might well become Reilly’s signature performance.

Jake Kasdan Joins Forces with Judd Apatow on “Walk Hard”

Apatow, the driving force behind “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up,” co-wrote the screenplay for “Walk Hard” with director Jake Kasdan. Apatow and Kasdan pack enough gags and puns into the script to fill two movies. Apatow and Kasdan take the stories of Johnny Cash, Ray Charles and Jim Morrison and blend them together to create the fictional history of Dewey Cox.

Kasdan, son of Lawrence Kasdan, also sends Dewey on a journey through musical history, allowing him to meet such greats as Buddy Holly and the Beatles.

The Bottom Line: “Walk Hard” is this Season’s Guilty Pleasure

Reilly, Apatow and Kasdan push the boundaries of good taste to their absolute limits in “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” but Reilly’s winning performance makes the whole thing worthwhile. It’s not the typical Christmas movie, but it is amusing.

“Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language, opens nationwide on Friday, December 21.