'The Rocker' review

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Drummer Robert “Fish” Fishman (Rainn Wilson) still holds a grudge 20 years after he was kicked out of Poison-esque metal band Vesuvius. But the rock star dream takes new life when Fish mans the skins for his nephew’s band, A.D.D. (whose members are played by Teddy Geiger, Emma Stone and Josh Gad), and sees the pop-rock quartet go from playing the prom to hitting the road faster than expected—while Fish sets his sights on the singer’s mom (Christina Applegate).

Big question: Can Wilson (“The Office”) notch a hit in a goofy starring role that’s not far from Dwight Schrute?

Catch it: Less kid-friendly than “School of Rock” but still parentally approved, “The Rocker” appeals to the part of you that dreams of stage diving, counting groupies and trashing hotel rooms. Unfortunately it also tries to appeal to the part of you that’s amused by juvenile jokes about vomit and shots to the crotch, but that’s not enough to detract from Wilson’s turn as a man clinging to his one last chance to avoid the 9-to-5.

Skip it: If you refuse to believe a bad song can be improved, since Fish shows Curtis (Teddy Geiger) that a quicker tempo and less depressing lyrics can make even the mopiest emo tune a hit pop song.

Bottom line: Even less believable than a hair metal band prospering for 20 years is the idea that Rob is satisfied with A.D.D.’s heart-on-its-sleeve pop and PG-13 lifestyle. But the movie’s got a lot of laughs, and when Rob belts out, “Look at me now, day job!,” plenty of audience members will wish they could say the same thing.

Bonus: A few of Fish’s choice one-liners: “You don’t ask your parents for permission to rock,” “Too loud isn’t in my vocabulary,” and his solution for bad hair: “A little bit of love, a lot of product.”

Video: Watch the review of 'The Rocker'

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