FILM REVIEW: “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”
It is said that in writing up a biopic for the artist who’s had the longest-running career in novelty music ever, the producers ran into a major problem. “Weird Al” Yankovic’s personality was not the kind particularly suited to a film of its kind: he came from a loving and respectful family, he never did drugs, never even touched a bottle of liquor in his life, he never had any extramarital affairs in his life, and his conduct around everyone around him was that of a kindred spirit who got along well with practically everyone he ever met.
Indeed, “Weird Al” was a man entirely devoid of any serious real-life scandal. But since no one expects anything ordinary from him, he and co-writer-director Eric Appel came up with some truly inventive troubles for the picture’s iteration of him to endure: a father who (up until the last third) resents “Weird Al”’s love of the accordion and talent for comedic music and vows to make him repent both, a pair of executives who take a harsh view of him in the time before he composes “Eat It”, the development of a severe bout with egotism, the take-ins of acid and Jack Daniels, and, most notably, an extramarital affair with Madonna (played by the ultra-seductive and sultry Evan Rachel Wood) who stalks “Weird Al” because he wants to have sex with him.
This last trouble follows him to Mexico, where Madonna is kidnapped by a gang of drug cartels led by the infamous Pablo Escobar (Arturo Castro from the Comedy Central sitcom “Broad City”), who “Weird Al” guns down in an impressive sequence before being himself gunned down in revenge after Diana Ross and Hulk Hogan hand him a big award.
The result is quite possibly the best parody of every sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll film that’s ever been made, buoyant in great humor, splendid performances and a script that is eager to show us how much it knows the ins and outs of the pop music biopic.
Al is played in the film by Daniel Radcliffe, who certainly has come a long way from the “Harry Potter” movies most people associate him with. He wears “Weird Al”’s appearance and voice not merely like a coat, but also like a very well-tailored suit. Mr. Radcliffe more than gives his all as the man who made a pop culture phenomenon from parodies of just about every popular song and musical style out there and whose career not only has outlasted that of many a novelty artist but also that of many of the artists he parodied.
There are many other fine performances in this superb film as well, including those of Rainn Wilson as Dr. Demento, Quinta Brunson as Oprah Winfrey, and indeed, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Will Forte as the real-life Scotti Brothers.
And just count the cameos! The party scene alone has era-accurate performances and acting matches for the likes of Conan O’Brien playing Andy Warhol, Jorma Taccone of the Lonely Island as Pee-wee Herman, Nina West from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” as (who else?) Divine, Akiva Schaffer as the rock and roll madman Alice Cooper, Demetri Martin as Tiny Tim, Paul F. Tompkins as Gallagher, David Dastmalchian as Queen’s bassist John Deacon, Emo Philips as painter Salvador Dalí, and, yes, the always-brilliant Jack Black as the Wolfman.
This is an amazing comic and musical experience. I urge all those who read this to see this picture immediately. It is an unmistakable cinematic jewel from and about a man who now and always is the all-time genius of popular culture.
FILM NOTE: This film, which has no rating and is playing exclusively on the free Roku Channel streaming service, gets a full review treatment on the basis of having played at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. “Weird Al” Yankovic himself wanted it to be seen in a select number of theaters because he felt it should be eligible for Oscar consideration but Roku denied him this request, preferring to instead make it eligible for a Creative Arts Emmy. I’m on Team Al for this story; this is a picture deserving of many an Oscar.
Rating for “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”: ★★★★
