As a part of our protection of the forty seventh annual Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition, Meg Shields critiques Eric Appel’s directorial function debut, ‘Bizarre: The Al Yankovic Story’, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Evan Rachel Wooden. Observe together with extra protection in our Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition archives.
It’s not clear which angel (or demon) is accountable, however between Elvis and Bizarre: The Al Yankovic Story, 2022 is absolutely shaping up as one heck of a yr for music biopics. And whereas the latter doesn’t attain the euphoric heights of the previous (few issues can, at this level), Bizarre nonetheless succeeds in delivering a heaping charcuterie board of crowd-pleasing cheese. However whether or not or not that’s what the Physician Demento ordered will largely depend upon how a lot you’re keen on taking part in one-hit wonders on repeat again and again.
Shocking no person, a movie in regards to the lifetime of the preeminent parody artist is extraordinarily, extraordinarily goofy. A send-up each of the music biopic style and its personal topic, Bizarre approaches the broad stroke chapters of Alfred Matthew Yankovic’s life with the identical reverence and respect its titular artist approaches chart-topping singles. The reality is there, type of. But it surely’s all a lot, a lot sillier.
Because of the efforts of an enterprising touring salesman, little Alfie comes into possession of the satan’s squeezebox that units him on the trail to worldwide superstardom. After years spent as a closeted accordion participant, Al (Daniel Radcliffe) is shocked when his musical abilities blow his classmates’ socks off at an underground polka get together. Possibly he ought to give this complete “being a musician” factor a shot, huh? Some inconceivable lightning strikes of inspiration and one well-timed bologna sandwich later, Al and his band catch the attention of an area novelty radio DJ (Rainn Wilson because the Monopoly Man as Physician Demento), who’s eager to assist Al capitalize on his area of interest of taking pre-existing songs and altering the lyrics to be approach, approach sillier.
Earlier than you may say, “oh wow, a full-size reproduction of Bizarre Al as Louis XIV,” Bizarre Al finds that fame and fortune don’t make up for a childhood of parental neglect. In the meantime, determined for the much-coveted “Bizarre Al” bump in gross sales, a succubus-like Madonna (Evan Rachel Wooden) enters the image to stir the pot.
Directed by Eric Appel, Bizarre advantages drastically from the person of the hour himself, who acts each as a producer and a co-writer alongside Appel (Bizarre Al additionally reveals up in a supporting function the place his lack of a curly mop actually makes him arduous to clock at first, so I gained’t spoil it right here). Certainly, partly due to its origins as a Humorous or Die sketch and its standing as a mockery of the type of motion pictures that relish movie star walk-ons, Bizarre is totally suffering from cameos. And other than an early jumpscare from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bizarre principally will get away with gratuitous cameo homicide. Particularly, as a result of having a comically continuous parade of comedy individuals (Jack Black! Scott Aukerman! Nina West!) present up as off-brand weirdos from popular culture historical past is a bit unto itself.
Pacing-wise, Bizarre very a lot performs like a movie with two distinct halves: with the primary act dedicated to a way more low-key story about how clearly superior Bizarre Al is as a result of, not in spite, of his quirks. In its latter half, after Bizarre Al has struck gold (and platinum), the movie explicitly pokes enjoyable at Oscar-baiting music biopics (you realize, your Judys and your Bohemian Rhapsodys). As you’d count on from Yankovic, Bizarre hits all of the style’s tropes with ease: Al is determined for the approval his dad and mom by no means gave him; Al nosedives into narcotics with the assistance of his parasitic girlfriend; Al pushes away the individuals who care about him solely to, finally, come crawling again after seeing the error of his methods. the drill.
Bizarre’s send-up of music biopics is formally wonderful… arguably to its detriment. A famously likable and family-friendly particular person like Bizarre Al torpedoing their profession is a humorous gag in a three-minute Humorous or Die sketch. However devoting 45-minutes to the bit of constructing somebody we love actually unlikable turns into tiresome and admittedly unfun after some time.
It is a disgrace as a result of Daniel Radcliffe’s dedication to being a little bit weirdo is well one of many movie’s greatest boons. And when the specificity of him being Bizarre Al fades away into “music man who’s imply as a result of fame is difficult,” the enjoyment of watching him on display begins to fade. When he’s taking part in an exaggerated model of Bizarre Al, Radcliffe is a real delight to look at. When the movie makes him do a drunken, hate-filled, shirtless rant, it’s humorous for, like, 5 seconds, after which it begins to really feel such as you’re really simply watching The Doorways.
Does Bizarre say something new, satirically, that Stroll Exhausting: The Dewey Cox Story didn’t say 15 years in the past? No. However if you happen to meet Bizarre by itself goofy phrases as a feature-length model of a Humorous or Die sketch with one joke, you’re sure to have a chuckle or two.
Bizarre: The Al Yankovic Story will likely be streaming free of charge on the Roku Channel as of November 4th, 2022. You may take a look at the trailer right here.
Associated Subjects: Comedy, Daniel Radcliffe, Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition (TIFF)
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