Before I begin this snarky review, I just want to say that I really enjoy Jack Black as an actor. He's starting to show some much-needed versatility, and it's good to see him tackling roles that aren't catered to his uber-wacky personality. After all, it's fun to stretch your legs a little, right? See new sights, hang out with different people. Or, you know, make more money by starring in pictures you wouldn't have been caught dead in five years ago. I may not agree with the direction Jack's headed, but at least he's trying. Big fat gold star for him. Hoo-rah.
As a musician who plays "funny music," however, Black is hit and miss with me. Some of his stuff is catchy and slightly amusing, while others are embarrassingly awful and not nearly as hilarious as he and his band mate Kyle Gass seem to think they are. While I'm sure Tenacious D has a loyal following of intelligent, well-read fans, most seem content with whatever nonsense the pair decides to release into the global marketplace that decade. In fact, your opinion of this dodgy band and their work will ultimately sway your vote when it comes to their full-length feature Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. Think of it as one long Tenacious D music video, and make of that what you will.
Directed by fellow funny guy Liam Lynch, PoD lovingly documents Tenacious D's rise from total obscurity to relative mediocrity. After encountering Kyle's hypnotizing one-man show, Jack Black — who is only referred to as JB in the film — is left awe-struck and hungry for more. Kyle agrees to mentor the naive young lad, teaching him all the deep, dark secrets of rock-and-roll. Unfortunately for JB, his newfound friend's skills are merely a front for lesser things; his teacher, it seems, is nothing more than a full-time failure himself. But all is quickly forgiven, as there are more pressing matters to attend to.
Like, say, paying the rent.
Despite being much better than any open mic act I've ever seen, Tenacious D's entertaining performance registers as a wistful fart within the bowels of the music industry. Crushed but eager for success, Kyle and JB painstakingly research the traits that made the legends of rock so, well, legendary. Their desire to unlock the secrets of their idols soon leads to the discovery of The Pick of Destiny, a magical object crafted from the rotten tooth of Satan himself. The pick was last seen in the hands of Eddie Van Halen before it was stuck onto the guitar legend's axe and put on display in the Rock-N-Roll History Museum. Realizing their financial livelihood is staked on winning an open mic competition, the duo set out to steal the pick in order to craft the greatest music known to man. Will they succeed?
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