WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story is one of those movies that is difficult to describe. It's a fictional biopics, yes, as well as a parody. It's a musical as well, a grounded absurdist tale of one man and his accordion.
Those unfamiliar with Weird Al's music may find it a bit harder to break into the story, but if you stick with it you'll find yourself tapping your toes along to the familiar beats, even if you're brow is quirked at the lyrics. In this way, WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story does to biopics what Al does to music.
We are introduced to a young Al, hiding Hawaiian print shirts under his mattress and practising the accordion in his closet away from the judgemental eye of his father Nick (Toby Huss) and doting but sceptical mother Mary (Julianne Nicholson).
He grows up and faces the perils any aspiring musician does – a life of hard partying, the issues of fame, and ego-inflating success.
Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Al for the bulk of the movie, does so with sincerity so deep you actually find yourself believing in his unyielding need to play the accordion, to take beloved pop songs and rewrite their lyrics, elevating the mundane (riding the bus, for example) to the stuff of Grammy winning artistry.
Of course, this is truly what Weird Al does – he is the Andy Warhol of pop music.
WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story is buoyed by earnestness, even when confronted with the most absurd moments. We won't spoil them for you, but watching Evan Rachel Wood as a gun-wielding Madonna is definitely something.
Part of the charm of Weird is the glimpses of Wood and Radcliffe you see behind the get-up; the moustache and glasses, the 80s jewellery and big hair. Neither actor is particularly chameleonic, but neither is preoccupied with the task of imitation.
These characters are overblown, hyper-exaggerated versions of who they symbolise – Madonna is the pop machine, Al is the artiste (a prototype the movie itself makes fun of with its Bohemian Rhapsody parody poster). The endless list of celebrity cameos is pure fun, too, and will certainly have you re-enacting that Leonardo DiCaprio meme.
If you aren't a fan of the absurd, this movie probably isn't for you. If you aren't a fan of Weird Al, this movie might not be for you, either. However, if you're one or the other you're likely to find plenty to laugh at.
Some creative choices stick out as, well, bad. In particular, the decision to put Nicholson in a fat suit for the last third of the movie, which seemed to be for no reason other than, you know, fatphobia.
The benefit of the doubt of this is that director Eric Appel was trying to poke fun at that very concept (it is, after all, a very bad fat suit), but there isn't enough socio-political critique in the rest of the film for it to land. Instead, it feels like a cheap shot, not something the movie – or Al's music – is known for.
In fact, the overarching feeling of punching up is what makes Al's music, and WEIR, enjoyable and resonant. You get the satisfaction of the music while simultaneously poking fun at every self-serious artist, and there's definitely fun in that.
How to watch WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story online
WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story is now streaming on Roku, which means you'll need to sign up for a Roku account and access The Roku Channel from your supported device to watch it, which include Roku set-top boxes, Roku streaming sticks, Roku smart TVs, NOW set-top boxes, NOW streaming sticks and Sky Q.
There's always deals for devices, including some deals on the Express, Express 4K, and Streaming Stick+, giving you up to 53% off. The offers are live on Roku's official site, and can also be purchased from Amazon, Argos, Currys and Very.
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Some of these discounts expire on December 4, so make sure to double check the price before you press checkout. As a little bonus, when you buy a Roku device you will also get BritBox free for 30 days (until January 31, 2022).
WEIRD: The Al Yankovic Story is now available to watch on Roku streaming devices and TVs, Sky Q and NOW streaming sticks via The Roku Channel.
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