Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Comedy, Drama, Music |
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is a American comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan, and written by Kasdan and co-producer Judd Apatow. It stars John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Tim Meadows and Kristen Wiig. A parody of the biopic genre, Walk Hard is the story of a fictional early rock and roll star played by Reilly.
Walk Hard heavily references the film Walk the Line (2005) about singer Johnny Cash and the Dewey Cox persona is mostly based on Cash. But the character also includes elements of the lives and careers of other notable musicians including Roy Orbison, Glen Campbell, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Donovan, John Lennon, James Brown, Jim Morrison, Conway Twitty, Neil Diamond, Hank Williams, and Brian Wilson. The film portrays fictional versions of artists Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles; also, some artists play themselves, including Eddie Vedder and Ghostface Killah. In addition, the film parodies or pays tribute to the musical styles of Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Billy Joel, Van Dyke Parks with Brian Wilson, and seventies punk rock.
In Springberry, Alabama, 1946, young Dewey Cox accidentally cuts his brother Nate in half with a machete. The trauma causes Dewey to lose his sense of smell. Dewey meets a blues guitarist, who discovers Dewey is a natural musician.
In 1953, Dewey performs at a school talent show and drives the crowd wild with his song “Take My Hand,” and his father kicks him out of the house, calling it the Devil’s music. A 14-year-old Dewey leaves Springberry with his 12-year-old girlfriend Edith; they soon marry and have a baby. Working at an all-African American nightclub, Dewey replaces singer Bobby Shad onstage and impresses Hasidic Jewish record executive L’Chaim. While recording a rockabilly rendition of “That’s Amore,” Dewey is berated by an executive.
Director: Jake Kasdan
Writers: Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan
Stars: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, David Krumholtz, Kristen Wiig, Tim Meadows, Jack White, Skyler Gisondo
Cast:
| Nat Faxon | … | Awards Show Stage Manager |
| John C. Reilly | … | Dewey Cox |
| Tim Meadows | … | Sam |
| Conner Rayburn | … | Dewey Age 8 |
| Chip Hormess | … | Nate |
| Raymond J. Barry | … | Pa Cox |
| Terrence Beasor | … | Country Doctor |
| Margo Martindale | … | Ma Cox |
| Honeyboy Edwards | … | Old Bluesman (as David Honeyboy Edwards) |
| Gerry Black | … | Harmonica Player |
| Aron Johnson | … | Teenage Band |
| Jack Donovan Saperstein | … | Teenage Band (as Jack Saperstein) |
| Taylor Hubert | … | Teenage Band (as Taylor Jamison Hubert) |
| Christopher Hurt | … | Teenage Band |
| Matt Price | … | MC (Teacher) |
| John Maynard | … | Man at Talent Show |
| E.J. Callahan | … | Second Man at Talent Show |
| Rance Howard | … | Preacher |
| Kristen Wiig | … | Edith |
| Craig Robinson | … | Bobby Shad |
| Paul Bates | … | Nightclub Manager |
| Patrick Faucette | … | Bad Men Bass Player |
| Harold Ramis | … | L’Chaim |
| Phil Rosenthal | … | Mazeltov |
| Martin Starr | … | Schmendrick |
| Oscar Dillon | … | Audience Guy at Nightclub |
| Chris Parnell | … | Theo |
| Matt Besser | … | Dave |
| Jack McBrayer | … | DJ |
| Molly C. Quinn | … | Teen with Pinups (as Molly Quinn) |
| John Ennis | … | The Big Bopper |
| Frankie Muniz | … | Buddy Holly |
| Ed Helms | … | Stage Manager |
| Jack White | … | Elvis Presley |
| Angela Little | … | Beth Anne (as Angela Little Mackenzie) |
| Odette Annable | … | Reefer Girl (as Odette Yustman) |
| Tyler Nilson | … | Bert |
| Jenna Fischer | … | Darlene Madison |
| Deanna Brooks | … | Hotel Groupie with Dewey |
| Ian Roberts | … | Drug Dealer |
| Steve Bannos | … | Prison Guard |
| Willow Geer | … | Rehab Nurse |
| David Doty | … | Rehab Doctor |
| Jack Kehler | … | Press Conference Reporter |
| Gerry Bednob | … | The Maharishi |
| David Krumholtz | … | Schwartzberg |
| Tim Bagley | … | Engineer |
| Jane Lynch | … | Gail the Television Reporter |
| Skyler Gisondo | … | Dewdrop |
| Kshitij Pendurkar | … | Dewey Rahim |
| Simon Helberg | … | Dreidel L’Chaim |
| Jacques Slade | … | Lil’ Nutzzak |
| Danica Rozelle | … | Music Video Girl |
| Lurie Poston | … | Cox Kid |
| Maggie Mannion | … | Cox Kid |
| Jackson Browne | … | Jackson Browne |
| Jewel Kilcher | … | Jewel Kilcher (as Jewel) |
| Lyle Lovett | … | Lyle Lovett |
| Stacey Scowley | … | Pierced Eyebrow Girl |
| Ajla Hodzic | … | Pierced Lip Girl |
| Ghostface Killah | … | Ghostface Killah |
| Otis Williams | … | The Temptations |
| Ron Tyson | … | The Temptations |
| Terry Weeks | … | The Temptations |
| Joe Herndon | … | The Temptations |
| Bruce Williamson | … | The Temptations |
| Eddie Vedder | … | Eddie Vedder |
| AJ Abaya | … | Dewey’s Grandson (uncredited) |
| Don Abernathy | … | Pygmy Bushman / Man in 50’s Club (uncredited) |
| Patrick J. Adams | … | The Kid (uncredited) |
| Robert Amjarv | … | Theremin Player (uncredited) |
| Marie Antoinette | … | Red Carpet Guest (uncredited) |
| George Anton | … | Hotel Groupie (uncredited) |
| Michael William Arnold | … | Dewey’s Kid 1970 (uncredited) |
| Isabella Astor | … | Dewey’s Daughter (uncredited) |
| Christopher Ausburn | … | Grandson (uncredited) |
| Laila Ayad | … | Backstage Elvis Groupie (uncredited) |
| Caleb Babcock | … | Dewey’s Son (uncredited) |
| Katrina Baker | … | Dewey Fan (uncredited) |
| Sydney Hope Banner | … | Daughter (uncredited) |
| Jay Bird | … | Caveman (uncredited) |
| Rian Bishop | … | Concert Patron (uncredited) |
| Jack Black | … | Paul McCartney (uncredited) |
| Clement Blake | … | Edith’s Father (uncredited) |
| Chris Blount | … | Dewey Cox’s Son – Playing Ball (uncredited) |
| Ian Bodell | … | Son (uncredited) |
| David Burrus | … | Kid #1 (uncredited) |
| D.T. Carney | … | Concert Patron (uncredited) |
| Michael Chanslor | … | Recording session pianist (uncredited) |
| Paula Christensen | … | Backstage Elvis Groupie (uncredited) |
| James Collins | … | Man in Dream (uncredited) |
| John D. Crawford | … | Officer Clark (uncredited) |
| Madison Cruz | … | Hotel Groupie (uncredited) |
| Jen Curci | … | Sara Parker (uncredited) |
| Vincent Cusimano | … | Frowning Hippie (uncredited) |
| Rose Davidson | … | Dewey Cox Fan (uncredited) |
| Marty Dew | … | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Aubrey Dickinson | … | 1950’s Girl (uncredited) |
| Sally Digirolamo | … | 1950s Girl (uncredited) |
| Johnny Drocco | … | Dude Seated in Stands (uncredited) |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia