Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny
Director: Liam Lynch
Cast: Jack Black, Kyle Gass, Jason Reed, Tim Robbins, Dave Grohl, Ben Stiller
Tenacious D (Jack Black and Kyle Gass) have always tried to assert their claim to being the greatest band on earth since the release of their first song< Tribute. However, even at their most deluded, they cannot claim this to be the greatest movie on earth. It is a frippery that could never be called a vanity project because it is far too self-mocking. According to the duo, it is a chance to answer the perennial question of how "The D" got started.
From the opening credits of an animated "D" farting around, it starts like a Jim Steinman musical, complete with Meat Loaf as the young JB's dad. Following guidance from Ronnie James Dio, one of his rock gods, the young JB heads off to Hollywood. Here, a chance meeting with boardwalk troubadour, KG, sees JB taken is as a rock 'n' roll apprentice, having to pay his dues in KG's apartment. With no money to the rent, the duo decides to enter a local talent contest but need a winning song. Studying pictures of their heroes on the covers of Rolling Stone, they discover they one thing in common, a peculiar-shaped guitar pick, a pick that was carved from the Devil's tooth. So they begin a quest to get The Pick for themselves from the Rock and Roll History Museum and the final showdown with Lucifer himself.
If you are familiar with Black's performances in HIGH FIDELITY and SCHOOL OF ROCK, can expect more of the same manic mannerisms. There is nothing fresh or original in his performance, after all he is playing an exaggerated version of himself, but it is what he does best. Gass's performance is a lot more subdued, as befits the character. As a comedy duo they do have that all-important chemistry that makes their gags work, no matter how puerile they are, and believe me they do get quite juvenile – the type of humour that appeals to teenage boys in particular. Not that there's anything wrong with that, the Farrelly Brothers have made a career of it. There are some great sight gags and humorous uses of film references. There are some great cameos from Ben Stiller and Tim Robbins, who are both almost unrecognisable. Stiller is Executive Producer and Black and Gass met at Robbins' Actor's Gang theatre troupe.
Of course, for most fans of The D, it's all about the music, and there's plenty of it as the duo deliver their own brand of Rock, with all its influences from the classics, but with lots of gratuitous swearing. If Kevin Smith had been brought up in California and played the guitar, this is the movie would have made.
It's not the most profound film of the year but it entertains and the 95 minutes pass so quickly you are left wanting more.
TENACIOUS D AND THE PICK OF DESTINY is on general release now.
Cast: Jack Black, Kyle Gass, Jason Reed, Tim Robbins, Dave Grohl, Ben Stiller
Tenacious D (Jack Black and Kyle Gass) have always tried to assert their claim to being the greatest band on earth since the release of their first song< Tribute. However, even at their most deluded, they cannot claim this to be the greatest movie on earth. It is a frippery that could never be called a vanity project because it is far too self-mocking. According to the duo, it is a chance to answer the perennial question of how "The D" got started.
From the opening credits of an animated "D" farting around, it starts like a Jim Steinman musical, complete with Meat Loaf as the young JB's dad. Following guidance from Ronnie James Dio, one of his rock gods, the young JB heads off to Hollywood. Here, a chance meeting with boardwalk troubadour, KG, sees JB taken is as a rock 'n' roll apprentice, having to pay his dues in KG's apartment. With no money to the rent, the duo decides to enter a local talent contest but need a winning song. Studying pictures of their heroes on the covers of Rolling Stone, they discover they one thing in common, a peculiar-shaped guitar pick, a pick that was carved from the Devil's tooth. So they begin a quest to get The Pick for themselves from the Rock and Roll History Museum and the final showdown with Lucifer himself.
If you are familiar with Black's performances in HIGH FIDELITY and SCHOOL OF ROCK, can expect more of the same manic mannerisms. There is nothing fresh or original in his performance, after all he is playing an exaggerated version of himself, but it is what he does best. Gass's performance is a lot more subdued, as befits the character. As a comedy duo they do have that all-important chemistry that makes their gags work, no matter how puerile they are, and believe me they do get quite juvenile – the type of humour that appeals to teenage boys in particular. Not that there's anything wrong with that, the Farrelly Brothers have made a career of it. There are some great sight gags and humorous uses of film references. There are some great cameos from Ben Stiller and Tim Robbins, who are both almost unrecognisable. Stiller is Executive Producer and Black and Gass met at Robbins' Actor's Gang theatre troupe.
Of course, for most fans of The D, it's all about the music, and there's plenty of it as the duo deliver their own brand of Rock, with all its influences from the classics, but with lots of gratuitous swearing. If Kevin Smith had been brought up in California and played the guitar, this is the movie would have made.
It's not the most profound film of the year but it entertains and the 95 minutes pass so quickly you are left wanting more.
TENACIOUS D AND THE PICK OF DESTINY is on general release now.
posted by Chris Patmore at 10:55 AM
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