I'm what the kids call an old head. I grew up on rock n' roll comedy acts like The Monkees, The Partridge Family, and Spinal Tap. The Get Lost Losers deserve to be listed with those all-time great comedy-music projects. I was not expecting to be WOW'd.
The movie centers around four aging bandmates on the verge of walking away from their rock n' roll dreams until a surprise opportunity to perform at a big-time showcase rekindles their commitment. But they need to write a whole new catalogue of songs to impress the judges.
Anyone who's ever been in a band will love the interactions between members. I played bass in about a dozen groups and was sent back in time to those dingy practice rooms and lousy bars. The arguments about music, song structure and attitudes were very genuine.
The music is well done and isn't that modern "rock" with its aggressive vocals and chunky riffs. I'd say the soundtrack is more of a cross between Deep Purple and Journey. Or, as they say in the movie, "Bruce Springsteen on cocaine without the horns."
Character-wise, there's the angry control-freak singer, the whiny ladies' man guitarist, the wholesome drummer and the too-cool-for-school bass player. There's a roadie who often steals the show and a 10-year-old manager that brings a lot of heart to the story. The singer's girlfriend has many funny moments and their arguments were sharp.
Is this a big budget blockbuster? No. But the performances are amazing, the story is simple yet solid, and it's more entertaining than any Hollywood film I've seen as of late. As far as a movie about a band goes, you won't find a film more funny, authentic or captivating released in this century. 10/10 will watch again.
