Review: Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny

Review: Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny (Liam Lynch, 2006, USA).

This is up early as I wanted to get it off my chest so I can concentrate on Godzilla tomorrow.
Jack Black and Kyle Gass' first theatrical piece recalls the often genius HBO specials which they made in the early noughties but to me is an overall disappointment When a film's soundtrack album is funnier than the film itself, you know you are in trouble.
The formation of Tenacious D leads to an ageing rocker (Ben Stiller in a not-funny-enough cameo) pointing the wannabe rock gods giving the guys instructions to gain the Pick of Destiny. They get it, fight Satan and thats it, film over. Along the way, there is much randomness including a cheeringly bizarre early Clockwork Orange homage, and a magical mushroom induced trip with Sasquatch. I'll be honest, those are the only 2 parts I can really remember (and I was sober throughout). The two leads put their all into the film, but it lacks focus and, perhaps, key, a big enough budget for them t0o truly achieve what they want. A car chase aside, the film feels far to much like their HBO specials when you would think they would break everything out with a theatrical stage. The climatic battle with Satan is barely glimpsed in the trailers for a reason; it feels to small to fill the screen. I am sure that in the original script, it was not set in a deserted car park! This is a shame to because the musical num,bers are mainly terrific but outside of them, there are few laughs to be had unless you a re a 15-year old who has just been introduced to the world of weed. The direction is competent enough and Liam Lynch seems to have done as much as he can with the budget. And yet, again, it just feels too small! A crying shame, as this really was one of my most anticipated films of the year. Honestly! I must say also, the opening sequence was wicked, Meat Loaf should have been in the film far more and the kid who plays young JB looks so much like Jack Black, its scary. Too bad the film couldn't match my expectations.
next theatrical review should be Pan's Labyrinth, my most anticipated film of the Winter after Casino Royale. That won't leave me as cold as Tenacious D: POD but if it does, I may cry!