Columbia Pictures and Relativity Media present an R rated approximately 95 minute film directed by Jake Kasdan and starring Chip Hormess (Nate), Conner Rayburn (Young Dewey), Justin Long (George Harrison), John C. Reilly (Dewey Cox), Paul Rudd (John Lennon), Jason Schwartzman (Ringo Starr), Jack White (Elvis Presley), Kristen Wiig (Edith Cox), Jenna Fischer (Darling) with a huge supporting cast, cameos and animals to keep the film loaded with entertainment.
Like a variety show of the past on steroids this film has an array of slapstick humor and music that reflects "Walk The Line" on acid. Back stage before Dewey is to receive the life time achievement award he flashes back to his childhood and the circumstances that lead him to where he is at that moment.
Springberry, Alabama 1946, two brothers, too young to die and too young to care have great plans for the future. Nate, is a brilliant pianist, loved by his parents especially his father and Dewey, a young boy with little direction but loved by his mother not his father. Playing together on the farm, bull running, throwing rattle snakes on each other, a freak accident happens which severs the boys relationship ultimately severing the relationship between Dewey and his father as well. At the time of Nate's death, Dewey discovers the blues by two men in the local grocery store.
In 1953, sophomore year, during Dewey's high school talent show, he sings to the crowd causing a riot of emotions from young and old in turn casting Dewey from his home by his father who believes "the wrong kid died". Dewey at the age of 14 takes to the streets with his new girlfriend Edith, age 12, which he discovered in the audience during his performance. One year later, their married with a child and Dewey is mopping floors at a Negro club to pay the bills. Discovered at the club, he gets his break as a musician and singer, a group of Hollywood Jews plummet him into stardom. By no means is this story line politically correct and that's my personal disclaimer!
A new home, life, many children, a monkey named Miles and a circus giraffe leads Dewey into a life that only Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan would understand, not to forget Paris, of course. Sex, drugs and promiscuity with a mixture of full frontal nudity turn his life with Edith upside down. Enter Darling, and life soon takes a turn again almost like a walk down memory lane if you lived in Utah. Dewey at the age of 21, by the way still performed by Reilly, he enters prison than rehab to try and clean up his act.
In Berkeley, CA the year 1966, Dewey and his Darling once again move on to shorter pastures. Literally, writing and singing for "short power" songs for the little people. It was the 60's by the way and everyone had a cause! He meets the Beatles in India which takes him on a cartoon journey back into the world of drugs and jock straps. Once you see this musical comedy laced with far out satirical humor you'll know what I mean.
Time passes and Dewey tries his talents in the world of television in Malibu, California during the 70's. But once again history repeats itself, Dewey is faced with looking his true inner demon in the eye, his father. But like his brother Nate, their relationship is severed as well. In the 90's at the Cox Ranch in Tennessee Dewey is united with his one true love, once again smelling the roses that he never could from his childhood. It was a beautiful ride but all good things must come to an end and at the age of 71 it did.
This film will do well to the young and impressionable audience that is able to look above the slapstick humor of nudity, drugs, bad language, family and friendship. All wrapped into a well written spoof sure to unearth Johnny Cash, directed and acted film about a man out to conquer adversity and become a musical legend. Life made Dewey tough, love made him strong and well music made him hard, in more ways than one. If you like comical in your face over the top humor like that of Saturday Night Live you'll enjoy this film. Given the R rating it won't attract the young audience, it may scare or offend the older but will find its niche with the groupies out for a trip down memory lane.
Reporting for Talkin' Pets, I'm Jon Patch.