The RockerMovie Reviews

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 53 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
12 Iffy for 12+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Frank Scheck

    Overcomes its essential familiarity thanks to a frequently witty script, grounded direction (by Peter Cattaneo, of "Full Monty" fame) and an engaging turn by its star that proves him more than capable of carrying a comedy feature. Read full review

  • 70
    Variety |

    Wilson makes the most of it in this well-crafted, feel-good satire. Read full review

  • 63
    Boston Globe | Wesley Morris

    A grubby little redemption comedy that in every way feels like a consignment-shop Jack Black vehicle. Read full review

  • 60
    Wall Street Journal |

    The Rocker has the requisite vomit, the view of some very unfortunate hind quarters and the suds. It's also got a vein of sweetness and charm. Read full review

  • 50
    Washington Post | Stephen Hunter

    The movie is so tepid and inoffensive: It reminded me of a '70s Disney live-action product, with clean-scrubbed "hippies" like Johnny Whitaker chafing harmlessly under the wise ministrations of Suzanne Pleshette, whose job was to keep the kids in hand. Read full review

  • 50
    Los Angeles Times |

    For the most part, The Rocker is content to simply keep the beat, marking time as the summer movie season moves on. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | Stephen Holden

    Most disappointingly, the music is tepid, mediocre pop pastiche. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle |

    You want to like almost everyone in this film, but they're all undone by a weak script. Read full review

  • 42
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    The only brazen thing about the film is how shamelessly it rips off "School of Rock." Read full review

  • 38
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    If you're a Rainn Wilson fan, catch a rerun of "The Office." Read full review

View more reviews for The Rocker on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 12+ Some laughs, but this is no School of Rock.
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.
  • 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?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: Fish encourages the kids to lie to their parents, steals his sister's van, and acts wildly. But it's all pretty tame, and he finally "grows up" by the end of the movie. The teenagers learn to take risks to follow their dreams.
What to watch for
  • violence false2 Violence: Fish beats up a co-worker, trashes a hotel room, drunkenly hurls himself off a roof, and threatens to hurt the band Vesuvius.
  • sex false3 Sex: Several discussions about "scoring" and "getting tail," references to "MILFs," etc. Groupies with visible cleavage ask to have their chests autographed. Several women flirt with Curtis. There are a few kisses, but nothing too passionate. Fish sits naked in front of a Web cam (a food box blocks the more sensitive bits).
  • language false3 Language: Occasional use of words like "ass," "a--hole," "bitch," and "s--t."
  • consumerism false3 Consumerism: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Zildjian drum kit, the Guitar Hero video game, Toyota Corolla, Mac laptops, and several camera phones are all featured in the film.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Various adults drink at bars, parties, and -- in the case of one musician -- straight from the bottle.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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