Shadows on the Wall | Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

dir Eric Appel
scr "Weird Al" Yankovic, Eric Appel
prd Lia Buman, Mike Farah, Joe Farrell, Tim Headington, Whitney Hodack, Max Silva, "Weird Al" Yankovic
with Daniel Radcliffe, Evan Rachel Wood, Rainn Wilson, Julianne Nicholson, Toby Huss, Tommy O'Brien, Spencer Treat Clark, Jack Lancaster, David Bloom, Richard Aaron Anderson, Will Forte, "Weird Al" Yankovic
release US/UK 4.Nov.22
22/US Roku 1h49

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Unsurprisingly, this Weird Al biopic is a wildly silly pastiche of the genre. What's unexpected is that it's also so smart and funny. Refreshingly unafraid to go for the most ridiculous laugh possible, the film is riotously absurd from start to finish, lampooning every cliche relating to show business biographies, and then some, right up to an abruptly hilarious finale. And of course it's packed with great songs.

Born to working class parents (Nicholson and Huss), young Alfred (Anderson then Bloom) showed far too much flair to be headed for a job in the factory, and had to develop his prodigious accordion skills in secret. At university (now Radcliffe), his pals (O'Brien, Clark and Lancaster) encourage his quick-witted parodies of pop songs, and form his backing band at his first rather frightening gig. There, they catch the attention of radio icon Dr Demento (Wilson), leading to national fame and fortune. Then when Al decides to record original songs, his star gets even brighter.

Departing from reality early on, the narrative amusingly scrambles truth with fiction, positing that Michael Jackson's Beat It was actually a parody of Weird Al's Eat It, then revealing a passionate fling with Madonna (Wood), who has her own sinister agenda. The film is packed with witty cameos, famous people playing other famous people to uproarious effect. And along with the comical set-pieces, the way director Appel spoofs the usual emotional beats is remarkably effective, making us laugh as the film tugs at our heartstrings.

Radcliffe never does anything halfway, and creates Al as a full-bodied character we'd love to hang out with. Relentlessly likeable, his descent into the usual addiction-fuelled carnage is played to perfection, and he's even convincing in a hyper-violent Schwarzenegger-style action sequence. Opposite him, Wood has a lot of fun as the outrageously ambitious Madonna. And Nicholson and Huss manage to remain consistent in roles that are sweet, nasty and everything in between.

Taking an Airplane!-style approach to dialog, the script is overflowing with deadpan throwaway gags that will make this movie entertaining on repeat viewings, while the deeper emotional layers add resonance even if they're played for laughs. It's a constant flurry of jokes, and what's most remarkable is how many hit the target with precision. So aside from keeping audiences chuckling, the film is likely to find a whole new generation of Weird Al fans.

themes, language, violence 2.Nov.22

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