Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
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A parody of the biopic genre, Walk Hard follows the life of a fictional rock and roll star.
The story
In 1946, in Springberry, Alabama, young Dewey Cox experiences a traumatic event involving his brother Nate, which leads him to discover a natural affinity for playing blues. By 1953, his talent leads to a public fallout with his father, who views his music as the "Devil's music." Dewey leaves home with his girlfriend, Edith, and they eventually marry. His career takes off after he performs a song called "Walk Hard" for a record executive. The song becomes a massive hit, propelling Dewey into the spotlight of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, where he begins to navigate the complexities of fame, personal relationships, and the influence of the music industry.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After becoming a superstar, Dewey faces the consequences of fame, including substance abuse and a complicated personal life. He marries Darlene while still married to Edith, leading to both women leaving him. He eventually moves to California during the 1966 counterculture movement, where his style is compared to Bob Dylan's. After a period of personal turmoil and a stint in rehab, he attempts to create a masterpiece, "Black Sheep," which leads to his band breaking up and Darlene leaving him for Glen Campbell. In 1976, while hosting a variety show, he faces a final confrontation with his father, who dies in a duel, leaving Dewey to reconcile with his past. In 1992, he reunites with Darlene and remarries her. In 2007, he prepares for a lifetime achievement award, where he performs his final masterpiece, "Beautiful Ride," and dies shortly after the performance.
- First release year
- 2007
- Runtime (minutes)
- 96
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jake Kasdan
- Writers
- Judd Apatow · writer; Jake Kasdan · writer
- Cast and characters
- John C. Reilly · Dewey Cox; Conner Rayburn · Young Dewey; Kristen Wiig · Edith Cox; Raymond J. Barry · Pa Cox; Margo Martindale · Ma Cox; Jenna Fischer · Darlene Madison Cox; Angela Correa · Darlene’s singing voice; Tim Meadows · Sam McPherson, drummer and drug dealer
- Genres
- musical; comedy
- Themes
- fame; substance abuse; father-son relationships; musical evolution
- Tone and mood
- humorous; serious
- Setting
- Alabama and California, spanning from 1946 to 2007.
- Premise and plot tags
- parody; biopic; musical
- Reception
- The film received positive critical reviews but was a box office disappointment, eventually becoming a cult film.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 75% · scale: percentage · review count: 138; Metacritic · score: 63 · scale: 100 · review count: 32
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Original Song · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's poster is a reference to the 'young lion' photos of Jim Morrison.; The film was shot on the Panavision Genesis.; The film features several celebrity cameos, including Eddie Vedder, Jewel, and Ghostface Killah.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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