 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Rocker
- Review Date: August 19, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Some laughs, but this is no School of Rock.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this comedy -- which stars Rainn Wilson of the popular sitcom The Office and singer Teddy Geiger -- has a tween-targeted marketing campaign and is likely to appeal to kids 10 and up. The jokes tend to be of the slapstick/physical variety, but there are occasional strong words like "s--t" and "bitch," a couple of kisses, and several references to "scoring" with the opposite sex. But as summer comedies go, this one is fairly tame.
What's the story?
Robert "Fish" Fishman (Rainn Wilson) is a flabby, unemployed man in his late 30s with a broken dream. Back in 1986, he was the drummer for Vesuvius, a hard-rock band that fired him just before they hit the big time. More than 20 years later, Fish is still seething with jealousy and resentment. His fortunes finally improve when his nephew, Matt (Josh Gad), reluctantly asks Fish to join Matt's four-person high-school band, ADD, to play the prom. After a few other small gigs, ADD gets signed by a label and goes on a Midwestern tour with lead singer Curtis' (Teddy Geiger) mom (Christina Applegate) along to keep the kids -- and Fish -- in line.
Is it any good?
Wilson -- who's pitch-perfect as kooky Dwight on The Office -- is a talented comedian, but he's not as hilariously manic (or musical) as Jack Black, so THE ROCKER pales in comparison to School of Rock. Singer-songwriter Geiger naturally knows how to be ADD's handsome, brooding teen frontman (he looks like a young, longer-haired James Franco), but when he's not in musician mode, his acting feels forced. On the plus side, as Amelia, the band's beautiful-but-insecure guitarist, Emma Stone (Superbad) proves she's ready to take her place as one of young Hollywood's talented go-to actresses.
Supporting actors like Jeff Garlin and Jane Lynch (who play Matt's parents), Applegate, and Jason Sudeikis as the band's greedy manager, lend their considerable comedic chops to their roles. The result is an amusing -- if not memorable -- musical comedy.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how fame and celebrity are typically depicted in movies. Based on what you see in the media, how does a "star" behave? Do Curtis, Matt, and Amelia act like stereotypical rock stars? What about the members of Vesuvius? The ADD teens' parents were all supportive of their band. Is that realistic? Kids: What do you think of ADD's music? Also, what's the most important thing Fish learns from the kids, and what's the most important thing they learn from him?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
SOME CUSSING BUT GOOD!!!
It has some cussing and says the word penis a few times but it's ok for kids ten and up barely make sure your kids are mature enough to know they can't say the stuff they say in the movie cause it's sometimes cussing.
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AGE
Rocker Rocks!
While there is some negative role models in this movie. it has a good message about following your dreams and is a pretty funny movie itself. i say its ok for teenagers but you might want to watch it first if there any younger
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AGE
Sometimes hilarious School of Rock copy-cat is definetly worth a rent, if not a buy
Rainn Wilson is a talented comedian, best known for his role as Dwight in the ultra-popular sitcom The Office. So it's funny here to see him play a role as a retired drummer. The story is mainly about his character, Robert Fishman (a.k.a Fish), who dreams of becoming the in-thing again, decades after his now legendary bandmates kicked him out of their band. The plot, while "predictable and lightweight", according to Rotten Tomatoes, is sweet and breezily funny. All the actors, new or veteran, put great charisma into their paper-thin characters. Emma Stone, who is now a rising star, is arguably the most memorable character, jutting out one-liners like "smiling is for the weak". Overall, The Rocker isn't a great movie, but it definetly is worth a rent, or maybe even a buy, if you like Rainn Wilson. Content issues: infrequent vulgarity, language, suprisingly strong comic violence (hard punches, getting hit by a car, etc.). B+
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AGE
acually really funny movie
i have no idea why this bombed at the box office??? content no violance in one scene fishes butt is shown close up some mild language fish gets drunk
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Kid, 10 years old
April 11, 2011
AGE
O....................MY..............................................GOODNES...SEE THIS MOVIE
this movie is funny see it see it
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AGE
Long live Dwight Schrute
This movie was great! I really didn't catch the similarites between this and "School of Rock," (mainly because I didn't see the latter) so I didn't care. Pure dumb humor at it's best, and Rainn Wilson proves he can be something else then a pyscho office worker.
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Peter Cattaneo |
| Cast: | Christina Applegate, Rainn Wilson, Teddy Geiger |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 102 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 20, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | January 27, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | drug and sexual references, nudity and language. |
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