5 For: The Rocker (2008)

In this Movie Memory Machine: Five For mini-episode, Landen and Truman keep the spirit of rock alive with five movies that do what The Rocker tried (and mostly failed) to do: tell hilarious, heartfelt stories about music, mayhem, and band dynamics. From Jack Black-led anthems to papier-mâché-headed legends, these picks bring better riffs, bigger laughs, and way less awkward dinner scenes.

Films Discussed:

1. School of Rock (2003)

2. Frank (2014)

3. Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

4. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

5. Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006)

Topics Covered:

• Jack Black’s master class in "rockin' but wholesome" energy in School of Rock

• Michael Fassbender’s masked madness and musical genius in Frank

• Josie and the Pussycats as the ultimate pop culture satire with banger tracks

• John C. Reilly’s career-best comedic performance in Walk Hard

• Commitment to the bit (for better and worse) in The Pick of Destiny

Key Takeaways:

• School of Rock sets the gold standard for rock comedies

• Frank proves weirdness and talent aren't mutually exclusive

• Josie and the Pussycats > Spice World, no contest

• Walk Hard skewered biopics so hard, Hollywood never noticed

• Tenacious D’s movie may be a mess, but it rocks harder than The Rocker

Listener Prompt:
Which fictional band would you pay real money to see live? Tell us using #MovieMemoryMachine.

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