Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is streaming on Roku at the time of writing. Rated PG-13. Common Sense says 13.
STORY: A
Weird Al weaves the most entertaining, enjoyable, rollicking lie of the year. This is no biopic. It’s an autobiopic told by the man himself, the only way he can tell it. This terrifically fictitious account of Al Yankovic’s life never wavers from its festive, irreverent tone. If you want to learn the facts of Al Yankovic’s crazy career, search elsewhere. If you want to truly understand the man, then stop, drop and watch Weird.
PEOPLE: A
Weird Al has always been a musical chameleon. He’s parodied Michael Jackson, Coolio, Nirvana, and Madonna, just to name a few. But Daniel Radcliffe out-chameleons Yankovic. Who else has played a frustrated starving artist, a Rambo-esque tropical assassin, a boozed out train wreck rock star, and a pitiful prodigal son (again, just to name a few) all in one film? It’s a brilliant performance.
Evan Rachel Wood plays Madonna like a surgeon - precisely and with the power to heal people. She’s a delight.
Part of what makes watching this film such a joy is the massive size of its cast and the many surprises therein. Not every face you see will be a mega star or a beloved cult favorite. But there are so many familiar faces, you’ll find yourself leaning on the edge of your couch, scrutinizing every face. Weird Al should have sold bingo cards filled with celebrity names. Best. Movie. Game. Ever.
FILM GEEK STUFF: A-
It’s not just the actors who have to wear several hats. Every genre carries its own conventions of camera angles, lighting, music, etc. Every crew person in charge of these elements glides between genres as nimbly as the actors do. The movie’s technical crew may not collect baskets of awards this winter, but they execute their jobs flawlessly.
Obviously, music is a big part of the movie. The set list is strong. Like an unforgettable concert, you get enough of the classics to leave happy, but you’ll walk out still wanting more, complaining about the few favorites they didn’t play.
PARODY (Elective Class): A+
Parody: an imitation of the style of a particular artist, writer, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comedic effect.
Weird Al - the most reliably unreliable narrator in the history of the music business - has made a legacy and a fortune parodying other artists. Why would we ever think he’d treat his own life’s story any differently? No collection of facts could ever reveal the man’s true essence more accurately. The choice to parody himself proves that the most popular and effective piece of writing advice ever (“Show, don’t tell.”) deserves its golden reputation.
FINAL COMMENTS:
Affectionately, with the amusing precision of a satirist, the magnetic charm of a conman, and the comical antics of a court jester, director Eric Appel delivers Weird Al’s fictional life story. It’s the spiritual companion to UHF I never knew I needed, and it’s the most fun I’ve had watching a movie in a long, long time.