Film Rewatch: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)

Thoughts: A HAY BOY?!

I really enjoyed Weird: The Al Yankovic Story the second time around, and not just because it was in 4K with the best audio possible. Allowing myself to fall into the cameo fest, and completely appreciate Daniel Radcliffe and Evan Rachel Wood’s dedicated turns makes the whole experience richer. That being said, there is a lot of patches and stretches where the dramatic takes centre stage and, considering the inherent ridiculousness of the entire enterprise, but the lens by which we are forced to view the film as completely and totally serious, these lengths can really stick out in an otherwise fantastic film. Uneven is the best way to describe it.

I don't really see the point in trying to summarise Weird: The Al Yankovic Story aside from stating it is the life Story of musician Al Yankovic as narrated by Diedrich Bader. He is but just one cameo in a film that relies almost entirely on a constantly shifting roster of cameos, whether that is a fault or a boon is up to the viewer. Knowledge of Al Yankovic and his music benefits the experience or else it results in consistently wondering if most of the events played out on screen are true-or at least that is what my eldest son seems to think. There's definitely some solid quotes peppered throughout so that's a plus!

The film is shot in a meat and potato style with some nice flourishes, usually when it extends into ultraviolence. Almost all the songs are performed by Al Yankovic himself, lip synced by Daniel Radcliffe in the title role. Frankly I'm happy that I own it now, so I get to watch it again, although I do think altogether it is a bit of an uneven and hodgepodge kind of film.

 

6/10