There is so much talent in front of and behind the camera, which makes the lousy "Rock the Kasbah" so incredibly disappointing. Bill Murray headlines the film and his deadpan wackiness is always the highlight of any movie. Not here.
There is a pervasive sense of nothingness that permeates every frame of "Rock the Kasbah." No interest in making the story captivating or funny, no interest from the performers in breathing life into their characters or any line of dialog. It's one of Murray's most indifferent and barely-there performances and his apathy towards this role only increases as the movie progresses.
Barry Levinson directs the film. Levinson, who has been a working director for some time, won the Oscar for directing "Rain Man", has several memorable films to his name (the aforementioned "Rain Man", "Good Morning, Vietnam", "Bugsy" and the underrated "Bandits" stand out). But his career has been a mixed bag of forgettable comedies and memorable movies with memorable performances. "Rock the Kasbah", with its scattershot story and shocking lack of humor, stands out as one of the most questionable projects the director has taken on.
Murray is music manager Richie Lanz. He's one of those guys who tells big stories about all of his accomplishments - including one about discovering Madonna - but the validity of those stories are often suspect. As the film opens, he is sitting in a crowded motel room that doubles as his office. He is listening to a girl sing a terrible rendition of Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved" (the girl is played by Sarah Barker). Richie isn't paying much attention to her but signs her anyway. She has to pay him $1,200 upfront for him to represent her. That should give you an idea of how things are going for Richie.
Richie promises big things for his clients. Zooey Deschanel plays Ronnie, Richie's one true client, who he accompanies to bars as she performs. Ronnie is a bit of an insecure mess, which is evident in her lack of presence on stage. Richie is singing along and helping her through her routine one night at a bar when a man tells Richie how great she is and she could be performing on an USO tour in Afghanistan. So, naturally, Richie and Ronnie head off to Afghanistan.
"Rock the Kasbah" becomes a whole different movie when the characters arrive in Afghanistan. Ronnie, who can't deal with pressure, disappears and is never seen again. That story is just over. Richie now becomes transfixed with the beautiful voice of Salima (Leem Lubany), who he tries to get on to "Afghan Star", an "American Idol"-like singing competition.
There's so much going on in "Rock the Kasbah" and almost all of it begs the question of "who cares?" The beginning feels totally out of place from the rest of the movie and smacked together in writer Mitch Glazer's screenplay, which creates an uneven and wholly frustrating movie experience. Kate Hudson shows up as a prostitute named Merci and Bruce Willis as a tough arms dealer. Both actors are given absolutely nothing to do in these roles.
Maybe you're reading this review and thinking I forgot a few plot elements that connect everything together and I just didn't want to spoil anything for you. Sadly, that's wishful thinking because "Rock the Kasbah" is as scatterbrained as I've described. With so much going on throughout the movie, it all feels like so little. Some of the music is entertaining, especially from Salima, who has a lovely voice. It's a minor highlight in a inexplicable dud of a movie.
To call "Rock the Kasbah" a stain on Levinson's filmography would be hyperbole. No one will remember this movie in a few months - or a few weeks, for that matter.
| Movie title | Rock the Kasbah |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2015 |
| MPAA Rating | R |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | Bill Murray gives one of his most forgettable performances in this dud of a movie. |
