Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006)
Directed by: Liam Lynch
Premise: Musicians JB (Jack Black) and KG (Kyle Gass) form the rock band Tenacious D and begin a quest for a mythical guitar pick that will grant them song writing powers.
What Works: For those who appreciate Tenacious D’s brand of humor, the film is very funny. The rock songs and the film’s sense of humor utilize Tenacious D’s characteristic mix of profane humor with an adolescent sense of cool and a mature self-consciousness that makes it funnier. The film is pure Jack Black, and he drives the humor, with Gass in the straight man role. For the most part the film does not get bogged down in its gags and smartly knows when to milk these moments and when to move on. The picture clearly has an affinity for its subject matter, and it includes a cameo by rocker Ronnie James Dio and, in funny bit of casting, Meatloaf plays JB’s father.
What Doesn’t: Those who are unimpressed with Jack Black’s antics or with Tenacious D’s music will not like this film. The film follows a buddy quest storyline, like Dumb and Dumber, but the characters lack the endearing relationship that makes these kinds of films work.
Bottom Line: Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny is not groundbreaking or a classic, but for those who get the joke of Tenacious D, the film is a lot of good, silly fun.
Episode: #120 (December 3, 2006)