Movie Review: Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that despite star Jack Black's huge
popularity with kids, this raucous, profane comedy is for very
mature teens and adults only (as those familiar with Black's
cult band, Tenacious D, will already know). It absolutely earns
its R rating for pervasive language, sexual content, and drug
use. There are pot, bongs, and mushrooms; the characters show a
particular fondness for the word "c--k"; crude humor centers on
flatulence and other bodily functions; and the ample sexual
content includes a graphic depiction of the skill that doing
"c--k push-ups" develops.
Families can talk about this side of Jack Black, which many
kids (and adults) may not have known existed. Which "version"
of the star do you think is more like his actual personality --
the hyper-yet-good-hearted guy he plays in movies like
School of Rock and
Nacho Libre, or the foul-mouthed, genitals-obsessed
"hero" of this film? Do you think the studio made it clear how
mature the content of this movie was? Why would they try to
hide that fact? Families can also discuss all of the bad
behavior on display in the movie (drugs, drinking, breaking and
entering, stealing, etc.). Why is it funny to see this stuff in
a movie when it's dangerous in real life?
JB (Jack Black), a young hayseed from the Midwest who shocks his conservative parents with his rock music. Banished to his room, JB gets a sign telling him to go to California to become a rock god. In Venice Beach, he meets slacker and guitar virtuoso KG (Kyle Gass). The two become friends, get stoned together, and decide they need to become "the world's greatest rock band." No easy feat, especially when the rent's due. So they plot to steal what might be the answer to their prayers -- a magical guitar pick that's on display in a rock museum 300 miles away. Road trip! On their journey, the friends encounter magical worlds, strange creatures, and even the devil himself. Will they become the band that single-handedly changes the course of rock 'n' roll history? One thing's for sure. These two righteous dudes have a lot of gross, raucous "fun" trying.
TENACIOUS D: THE PICK OF DESTINY is like School of Rock on steroids. It's no-holds-barred raunchy and crude. Black and Gass may be pretty good musicians (in fact, the musical sequences are the best part of the movie), but their brand of humor demands that you leave any sense of tact or dignity at the theater door.
Die-hard fans of Black's band will be happy to know the movie features new songs, along with some mind-bending cameos by the likes of Tim Robbins, Ben Stiller, and Colin Hanks. Really, it's too bad Black and Gass didn't ditch the buddy-movie-road-trip theme and just go with a straight rock opera from start to finish -- if they had, this movie would have rocked even more. If you must watch this on DVD, wait until the kids go to bed.
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