Weird: The Al Yankovic Story * Mild Spoilers *

[Some Schmo]

******** Mild Spoilers *********

I just finished watching Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and I have to say that I haven't been this impressed with a comedy in years. It's a parody of a rock star biopic loosely "based" on his life. Very, very loose. It's mostly fiction, which is obvious to anyone who lived through the period it depicts. Actually, it should be obvious to anyone.

I've been watching a lot of these rock star biopics lately, so I guess I was primed for this one (by the way, Jersey Girl, my wife and I intend to get to the Elvis movie soon, but we're both sort of semi-motivated to watch it and it's a long time commitment for the time we get together, but I'm sure we'll get to it eventually).

Anyway, I haven't laughed this consistently at a movie in, like I said, years. I was laughing mostly at the tone of it. Kind of reminds me of my experience with SCTV back in the day. It had jokes, but what was funny to me were the characterizations of people popular at that time.

But really what's best about it is the way it parodies rock star biopics. The way I got turned onto it was listening to Weird Al on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast, and Weird Al was saying he was annoyed by the way rock star biopics got facts wrong, or in the wrong order and conflated other events for dramatic effect, so all of that is baked heavily into his movie. I thought it was pure comedy genius.

It's free to watch on the Roku Channel with ads, by the way.

I don't want to give too much away, and I suspect I may have over sold it here, but man, I just had to jot down my reaction to that, because seriously, that was a good laugh for me. I should also say, I didn't have high expectations, which for me always helps.

If you've seen it, what did you think?

[Jersey Girl]

Is this the one with Daniel Radcliffe? If so, I've only seen clips.

[Some Schmo]

Is this the one with Daniel Radcliffe? If so, I've only seen clips.

It is, and I thought he was awesome.

by the way, I recommended it to my wife when she got home from work, and she only got halfway through it before shutting it off. She thought it was stupid, so there's another take for everyone.

I knew it as I was watching it: it's a very specific sense of humor.

[Jersey Girl]

Is this the one with Daniel Radcliffe? If so, I've only seen clips.

It is, and I thought he was awesome.

by the way, I recommended it to my wife when she got home from work, and she only got halfway through it before shutting it off. She thought it was stupid, so there's another take for everyone.

I knew it as I was watching it: it's a very specific sense of humor.

Daniel Radcliffe has turned out to be an amazing and skilled actor, in my opinion. He's a risk taker and I like that about him.

[Some Schmo]

Daniel Radcliffe has turned out to be an amazing and skilled actor, in my opinion. He's a risk taker and I like that about him.

I've only seen him in the Harry Potter movies before this. I was really surprised at his performance. It was right in the zone.

by the way, I considered the idea that it was the mood I was in and wondered if it would hold up upon another viewing. I haven't watched it again, but I heard a clip from it yesterday and found myself starting to chuckle all over again. Without a doubt, it's the comedy of the year for me.