Review of Rock the Kasbah (2015) by Mike K — 07 Jun 2016

I had never heard of Rock The Kasbah before it was added on Netflix, but decided to give it a view, because I had already watched the majority of what Netflix had to offer. I have to admit I went into the movie with low expectations.

In my humble opinion, Bill Murray reached his peak with the Ghost Busters franchise, and has rarely made me laugh out loud since (Except for his short Cameo in Zombie Land) Bruce Willis, Danny McBride, and Zooey Deschanel adding their star power to the cast made Rock The Kasbah worthy of a chance however, so I reluctantly jumped into it.

Part way through Rock The Kasbah I realized that I was actually enjoying the movie, While not overly funny, it does have a few scenes that made me laugh. Bill Murray does a good job of playing a washed up producer, and Zooey Deschanel's anxiety attacks were comically convincing. Danny McBride graces the screen with his typical anti-hero pot smoking persona, stealing the show from Scott Caan, despite being his sidekick. (Although Caan was funny as well) Bruce Willis' as a crazy mercenary looking for a book deal added some extra fun to the mix, and Kate Hudson as a prostitute working to feed her 401k rounded off the all star cast. While the script probably will never be considered a masterpiece, each character does a good job playing their part. (Not surprising, since most of the cast are well established actors).

What really made Rock The Kasbah enjoyable for me was the music. Zoe Deschanel's cover of Bitch by Meredith Brooks was excellent, and showcased the fact that Deschanel is more than just a pretty face. Leem Lubany's renditions of Cat Stevens "Wild World" and "Peace Train" were a fresh take on classic songs, and even more enjoyable to listen to than the originals. I have no doubt that if this star does not continue to rise as an actress, she could fall back on a career in music.

While many critics have given this movie poor reviews, it's no secret that critics sometimes miss the mark. I urge you to give Rock The Kasbah a chance, as you might, like me, find this quirky little gem enjoyable. If you find yourself unable to stomach Murray in a non-slapstick role however, there is always Ghost Busters or Caddy Shack to fallback on.