User reviews

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny is a great movie with a really fun storyline and great performances from both Jack Black and Kyle Gass.This movie was a box office bomb when it came out,and I don't see why,I thought this movie was very enjoyable,it was really funny and had unbelievably good music numbers,and I thought Tenacious D would have a big enough fan base for this movie to make some decent money.I'm not a fan of the band,and I thought I wouldn't enjoy it unless I was,but I really did,and I also learned that Jack Black is actually a fantastic singer,and the rock off scene with David Grohl as Satan is something I will never forget.Fans of the band will definitely enjoy this movie and fans of Jack Black comedies will also.

Two men interested in becoming rock stars head off on a quest to find a guitar pick that is actually Satin's tooth in order to become big.

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny

The concept of writing a film review for the Tenacious D movie may seem slightly unnecessary, as just about anyone upon hearing about the film most likely already had a sense of whether or not it would interest them. Fans of the duo's rock-comedy album and cult classic television show, or the incessantly energetic Jack Black will have jumped at the prospect of an hour and a half of unfiltered Tenacious D madness, and those who generally would not gravitate towards such forms of entertainment will have already uttered a groan, and discounted any possibility of seeing the film. And while the film will prove highly entertaining for those who would normally take to this sort of thing, it falls short of being strong enough to win any fans outside of its existing demographic - those who were fans of Tenacious D already will be satisfied, but those previously unimpressed are unlikely to change their opinions very drastically after experiencing the film equivalent.

Director Liam Lynch seems for the most part content to sit back with a camera rolling, leaving Black and Gass free to do what they do best - namely pull the infectiously energetic and likable slacker rocker schtick which exposed them to the public eye in the first place. What is unfortunate is the consistent feeling that the material feels too watered down to really excel as a film and reach the full comedic potential the premise originally boasted. While the occasional comedic gem may float along, for the most part it feels like these occasional high points are too inundated in mediocre sequences to be truly memorable. It's hard to pinpoint exactly where the problem lies; in terms of content the film plays upon the same themes and plot points which made Tenacious D so crudely enjoyable in the first place, but the material feels a touch too familiar by this point, coming across as still enjoyable, but merely cute or chuckle worthy, rather than the real belly laughs which should have been evoked.

Another crucial component of the band's charm, the music, also sadly falls short of the duo's previous material. While the film boasts a superb opening sequence and song, explaining Black's oppressive religious home life, and his determination to break free and become a celebrated rocker, after the opening credits, the music sadly never rises above anything more than satisfactory. However, the orchestral music backing up the band's music at crucial plot points was an inspired touch, adding to the faux 'epic' feel to the pair's overzealous quest, as do the tarot card transitions between plot points - another clever touch. Traits like these are what make the film ultimately rise above mediocre, and add style and class to what otherwise might have fallen apart at the seems if not packaged effectively.

While the film is unquestionably centered around Black and Gass themselves, while both are sufficiently entertaining to carry the film even though its weaker points simply by their raucous charm, neither can boast the film to be among their most comedic or entertaining performances to date. And while none of the background players have very much to do whatsoever, it's in the wonderfully in-jokey cameos that the film really excels. Tim Robbins in particular is flat out hilarious as a mysterious and unsettling 'Stranger' also in search of the fabled guitar pick, and Ben Stiller is the funniest he has been in years in an excellent bit part as a guitar store employee, equipped with garish amounts of rocker hair. It's also nothing less than a scream to see the legendary Meatloaf poking fun at his hard edged persona by playing Black's vehemently religious father in the film's opening scene, as well as singing on screen for the first time since Rocky Horror Picture show. Foo Fighters musician Dave Grohl is memorably badass, reprising his role as Satan from the band's music video, and John C. Reilly makes an almost unrecognizable appearance as a flying sasquatch in an unsettling drug induced hallucination sequence.

While the film may not win Tenacious D many new fans, for those who previously enjoyed their work it is still easily worth a watch. There may not be a whole lot of new material, and the songs may not be quite as caustic and catchy as in the past, but Black and Gass's collective enthusiasm is enough to guarantee that the legend of Tenacious D will keep on rocking for quite some time. Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny may not live up to its boast of being "the greatest motion picture ever made", but it does certainly guarantee a highly enjoyable, albeit forgettable hour and a half of inspired madness and head banging rock music.

-7/10

I saw this movie on a fluke.I was standing on 42nd street waiting for a bus to go home and a sister started passing out free tickets for a preview of this movie.I gave it a chance not expecting much.The promotional movie posters I've seen on the subway station walls do not give this film justice at all.

The movie is about a young rocker who goes on a journey to learn the craft and art of heavy metal.I'll leave it there.The movie is a heavy comedy and lot's of fun.If your are old enough to remember when Heavy Metal dominated the music scene in the eighties you are going to love this film.Jack Black is an amazingly talented comedian and actor and assuming he really wrote and performed the songs in this film he is also a talented musician.

Tenacious D is definitely worth a look!

When I first heard that Jack Black and Kyle Gass would make a movie about their band I was freaking out! I love their music and I hoped that this movie would be really funny! Now that I have watched it I can't really say that these hopes weren't satisfied but I think I expected more. The movie is full of Tenacious D's great music and I really loved listening to all of it. There are a lot of great jokes and I just love the story, at least the first bit. I don't like the way the movie ends. The ending is very abrupt and in my opinion they could have extended that a bit more.

Overall I think it is a good movie to watch! Everyone who likes rock music should watch it! It'll give you a good laugh!

Just saw it at as closing film of Austin Film Festival. Going in, a had seen a few snippets of their act at Alamo Drafthouse, and thought the trailer was amusing but I wasn't expecting such an epic theme music and the use of tarot cards is genius in the title sequence. Watch out for cameos from Ben Stiller and Tim Robbins, and the dark lord himself (who has a fetish for KG). So much over-the-top fun and the songs are so catchy. The car chase was by far my favorite scene. I know this will earn cult status right away and win over some new Tenacious D fans, just like me. I hope this does well in the theaters. "Follow me, we are the shadows"

This was a 'steady' flick…not as fun as Jack Black's other films but definitely better than Nacho Libre. Personally, this musical comedy is so much easier to digest than other operatic Broadway drivel, especially if you are a fan of Tenacious D (their song "Wonderboy" is a real hoot!).

Black and Kyle Gass make up the band that is Tenacious D. Listen to their song "Tribute" to better appreciate the movie (the video's hilarious, too!). The movie is a spin-off of the song, which tells the story of how Tenacious D was formed to become the world's greatest band –by defeating Satan himself (played by the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl). Watch out for other cameos by Ben Stiller (also the executive producer), John C. Reilly and many more.

The plot is thin and ridiculous but you continue to watch it anyway just because it can be irreverently fun (living out the essence of rock). Also, because rooting for the underdogs that Black and Gass are—old, balding, tubby rockstar-wannabes—is such a classic crowd-pleasing formula. Watch it if you like rock, don't take things so seriously, and just want to zone out for some self-indulgent me-time. :o)

It's alright for what it is. The film has some funny moments, but nothing to make it a good comedy. Most entertaining part of this film, is seeing the different cameos. From Dio to Ben Stiller lots of different appearances. A cameo does not make for a good film though.

I saw The D's new film tonight at a special advance screening, and I was so blown away by its sheer greatness that I felt I had to come onto IMDb and get the word out. Admittedly, I was already a huge fan of the D's work - I loved the HBO series and listen to their music weekly (there's nothing better to sing along to), but this appreciation actually made me more apprehensive going into to tonight's screening (for we've all been disappointed one time or another by something we love when it attempted to make the jump to the big screen). With Tenacious D's "The Pick of Destiny," this is not the case.

Simply put, this film rocks harder than anything I've seen and is funnier and more majestic than anything Peter Jackson, Pixar, and Will Ferrell together could produce. It tells the story of the D before we came to know them, setting up intriguing histories of Kage and Jables' upbringings, their comings together, and how they were inspired to write songs about such things as Lee, Sasquatch, and Dio. Most importantly, they reveal the true inspiration to the Greatest Song In The World, "Tribute," and how it came to be (which is different than the HBO Series' version). After you've witnessed it you probably won't be able to remember it (hence the Tribute), but your mind forever be changes by its genius.

I don't go out to movies very often anymore due to the high ticket price and the hassle of getting parking, paying outrageous concession prices, etc., but I usually make exceptions when it's starring someone I really love or concerning something of the the same variety. "The Pick of Destiny" was so good that I have no qualms going back to see it again when it releases nationwide, and I plan on convincing all of my friends to go, too. Last week we saw "Borat" and loved it, but this is honest to goodness TEN TIMES BETTER. For anyone who truly loves rock music and comedic brilliance, see this film. These guys' talent is so great you should have no hesitation supporting their cause. You will not be disappointed, and the Rock Lords will smile upon you favorably.

More than any other movie in recent memory 'Tenacious D: The Pick Of Destiny' gets by on the sheer force of the personality of one of its cast members. That personality is Jack Black, and his charisma alone is responsible for dragging this movie from awful to at least watchable.

It's silly, but I enjoyed some parts of it. Most of the songs are instantly catchy, and I'm sure teenagers and fans of Tenacious D will love the foul mouthed songs. Ben Stiller pops up and for once he is not doing his usual nice guy Ben Stiller routine. Which is a nice touch. Tim Robbins also makes an appearance too.

At the end of the day, not even Jack Black can save it. He is watchable as always, but these are not ninety of his better minutes

The Tenacious D movie is every bit as good as I could have wished for it to be. After the lukewarm reception it had gotten in the States and the not so promising trailer I had already prepared myself for a mediocre comedy experience. This movie was not mediocre. It's a fanboys dream come true. And maybe that's just what made it such a commercial failure. This movie is for fans who know the Tenacious universe. Any casual viewer will probably feel like they don't get the in-joke.

Screw it. I'm not a casual viewer. I'm a fan of the D and as such I enjoyed every minute of this great cinematic adventure of JB and KG. Somehow the guys managed to put in all the things that have been important to their history so far: Dio, Sasquatch, Lee, the Devil, their silly announcements in the local club they sometimes play in and, of course, cock push-ups. Speaking of cocks, "POD" is nowhere near as obscene as the little short movies they put on their "Complete Masterworks" DVD. There may be the occasional fart joke, but sperm-orgies and nudity have been omitted, thankfully.

The cameos are funny as hell, from Meat Loaf and Ronnie James Dio, to Ben Stiller, Tim Robbins, John C. Reilly and, of course, Dave Grohl. And Troy Gentile who played Jack Black as a little kid just absolutely nailed the part. He looks so uncanningly like JB that it's almost hard to believe there's no relation between the two. The songs rawk and work even better in the context of the movie than they do on CD. And the story itself is fast paced and full of precious little details. I loved the way JB and KG first met and how JB went from KG's apprentice to his huffy boss. The highlight of the movie, however, is the scene in which The D pay tribute to Pete Townshend's legendary power slide during "Won't Get Fooled Again" from the "The Kids Are Alright"-movie.

"Tenacious D: The Pick Of Destiny" shows how much fun it is to be a rock fan. In a lot of ways it's like the "Bill & Ted" movies. Silly, mindless fun with a huge cult factor. This is one of the very best movies with a real band playing the main roles. The only downside is, that it was such a bomb that we're probably never going to get a sequel. That's a sad thing, but then we do have this great movie and when the DVD is released we can watch it over and over and over again.

Tenacious D! They reign!

Probably the best comedy in a long time. keeps you laughing nonstop! the acting is good and there are a lot of hilarious cameos such as Ben stiller as the guitar store guy. The plot wasn't as good as i had hoped but the comedy makes up for that. I can only hope for a sequel cause it seems like they can still do so much more. Even though it was 1 hour and 40 minutes long i still wanted more at the end :) also there is a scene after the credits which is actually one of my favorite parts of the movie!! I suggest this to anyone who loves a good comedy and Definitely suggest it to fans of The D or Jack Black. You should buy the album also, the songs are so damn catchy and hilarious, the music on it is Top Notch as well.

As a stone cold Tenacious D fan, i really wen't into the cinema expecting the worst. I was pleasantly surprised. Though most of the jokes weren't hilarious, it had it's moments where you look back on it and laugh. Such as a Devil who swears nonstop, or a flight on the back of a sasquatch. The stars (for a low budget film) are brilliant, and everyone is done great. Plus, for other fans, Jack does his brilliant 'Oh for god sakes Kyle, kick it!' moaning rage quite a lot. It is rated R, or where i live, a 15, and I can easily see why. But it only seems to scrape that rating, i feel they could of done more to make it more 'D' than any other band stories/comedies. No fan will be disappointed, i guarantee, but people that don't really know Tenacious D, and are just going for a bit of fun, or because they like Jack Black (or even KG) they may not like it so much. It has brilliant bits for everyone (and you finally find out the greatest song in the world, as mentioned in their hit song 'Tribute'.) Less I spoil no more for you, go and see it!

Gazza

I was able to see a preview of this movie through UCLA's pre-screening program, and let me tell you: THIS MOVIE IS UNBELIEVABLY GOOD!!!! I have seen many movies, but few have made me laugh so sincerely or talk about the movie afterward as much as this one. I had a decent respect for Tenacious D before seeing the movie, and now I am MAD about them. I will most definitely buy their album when it is released on the 14th and will see this movie again.

If you were on the fence about seeing this movie, GET OFF AND GO SEE IT!! It is worth the extremely expensive price of movie tickets these days, as you will surely bust a nut laughing during the whole thing.

Aside from the comedy, the glorious and divine music that flows from KG's guitar and JB's voice is awe inspiring. The audience is left in a stupor that such beautiful harmonies and amazing riffs can be created in conjunction with such ridiculous (and hilarious) lyrics. If for nothing other than the music itself, this movie is worth the price of admission.

With a wonderfully coherent storyline tying in almost all aspects of the traditional "D" history and hallmarks, great new songs, hilarious comedy, and some pretty awesome cameos, this movie ranks up there with the best! Go see it!!

It might be an understatement to say that Jack Black is truly a jack of all trades. Of late his profile has been raised in the various high profile movies he's starring in, ranging from his own comedies like Nacho Libre, which I thought suffered from its own over-hype unfortunately, to blockbusters like King Kong for him to flex some dramatic muscles. I still remember the smaller supporting roles he played in movies like High Fidelity, and now he's probably in the bigger league, having the ability to open a movie with just his name on the marquee.

Tenacious D however, is not a one-man show. It's actually a Jack Black-Kyle Gass vehicle in which they play two absurd rockers conveniently called JB and KG. They're dreaming of the day of making it big in the rock scene, with cash and chicks in their sex, drugs, rock and roll lifestyle. But until then, they have to content with paying the bills, and performing in open mic sessions of smaller joints. And of course, not having sufficient talent to come up with a hit, works against them, though they manage to snag one die hard fan along the way.

Making its jump from TV (was an HBO series), Tenacious D doesn't need you to learn up its history in order to enjoy it, as it begins with a fair bit of background story of how these two friends, with a passion for rock, meet and develop their friendship and partnership in showbiz. In his movie, they're on a quest to seek the legendary Pick of Destiny, which almost every who's who in the annals of rock history is observed to be using, rumoured to be a part of Satan (ok, all you folks who associate loud music with the devil will probably rejoice at his point).

And to humour these folks, JB and KG are your expected foul mouthed characters who pepper their lyrics with bawdy sex lines and vulgarities, which, in my opinion, totally rocks, spoofing the genre of music to a T. To truly enjoy the movie, you'd have to pay close attention to the lyrics and the dialogues between the characters, though some might add that it's a bit of an overkill having almost every line punctuated with Fs or Cs. Laughs are also milked from physical action, with inane bits like the Power Hugs and the Power Slide, which is touted as THE arsenal in any bona fide rock star.

The other highlight of Tenacious D are the hilarious cameo appearances from folks like Tim Robbins, John C Reilly, Ben Stiller (woohoo!) and even Meat Loaf, for some rock cred. Their characters, some unrecognizable until you do a second take, add plenty of colour to this wacky fantastical film.

But Tenacious D blew hot and cold, and there will be points in time where you will just cringe at the delivery, or simply be unimpressed by the predictable ho-hum plot. It's almost as if Bill and Ted had put on loads of weight, and have recycled their excellent adventures into something with a rock element, and replacing Death with Satan himself. Satan here is done in awesome crimson red, much like Hellboy, horns and all, but with plenty more devilish attitude to boot. And yes, Jack Black can sing, really. A genuine performer if you ask me.

If you're someone with a holier than thou attitude, steer real clear from this movie. It's so offensive that those who cannot stand the slightest murmur of insanely vulgar dialogue or set action sequence, will probably suffer from a bad fit. Stay tuned until after the end credits for a scene between JB and KG, where they try to conjure yet another masterpiece in front of their tape recorder.

OK The Thing Is here that The was the best movie EVER and who ever says that it isn't then they are stupid. All though I do agree that If you've seen the HBO special then This isn't nothing new. But the thing is They don't show the Specials ever and more people listen to the D now so they made a movie witch was way more organized and better so people would under stand.

Plus the new album is like 10 times better then the Old one. Just because there are more songs LIKE SONGS in this one in the old one there where like 3 or 4 that were like "SONGS" like Tribute wonder boy Double-Team and City Hall. Still an awesome album ALL IN ALL THAT MOVING FLIPPING ROCKED

When I saw the theatrical trailer to Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny, it looked like one of the most stupid movies on Earth. Especially since I was so disappointed with Nacho Libre, I was wondering if Jack Black lost his comedic edge. But my friend called me a few nights ago and told me that this movie was so hilarious and that I needed to see it, so I figured to give it a shot, so I rented it. I just watched it and I have to admit that I just had a great time watching it. I am a huge classic rock lover, so I think that's part of the reason why I loved it so much, but the guys made the movie work and had great chemistry.

JB is a kid who ran away from his religious family to become a rock star, when he gets to Hollywood he finds another old balding heavy set man KG who is playing his guitar on the streets. He is extremely impressed with KG and begs him to be in a band with him. KG lies and tells him that he's a huge rock star, but when JB finds out what a fake KG is, he forgives him and they find out what makes a band great and that is "The Pick of Destiny", so they must go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to find the pick that will make them play like true guitar Gods.

It has funny music, some great humor and some gross, and the story just worked for a comedy. I thought this was a great surprise, I really enjoyed Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny, I think anyone could too. Believe me, you'll definitely enjoy the scene where KG and JB are fighting to "outrock" Satan, I have to admit that I've never seen anything like that, it was great. So, please have fun, this was a big step up from Nacho Libre for Jack Black.

7/10

I am a fan of Tenacious D and I was hoping against hope that this would be the one movie that would show the true talent of Jack Black and Kyle Gass. I was wrong. I was hoping for a something of the old Tenacious D in this movie, but no, not even the talent of Ben Stiller or Tim Robbins carried any punch. You would think that if you had any friends in the movie industry they would suggest that they think this movie over before giving it the go ahead. When HBO had their half hour shows on, they were fresh, funny shows. I was sad when they were no longer on HBO. But I am sorry that I paid the money for this film, please wait until it comes on HBO. The opinion below is of my critic, my husband....

NOTE: (As the husband of the movie-goer who just wrote the above critique, I would like to say that I performed my spousal duties, AGAIN... and suffered through yet another MISERABLE, NO - TALENT performance by Jack Black. My sympathy goes out to all of you who have suffered a fate similar to mine, ie. watching Jack Black attempt to entertain the masses. Oh, what we will do for our loved ones. And yet, through all this I have found that we are the ones that, in fact, have the closest ties to Mr. Black, far closer than that of his forlorn fans, God bless them all. For it is us who must suffer the agony and shame of his performances. It is us who know the frustration and humiliation his friends and family must feel after yet another piece of garbage has been produced. All I can say is that Mr Black & Mr Gass are very fortunate that this country is so large. This ensures that no matter how terrible the drivel is that they produce, there are still enough fans to allow them to make a substantial living. In fact, I am hoping they make enough off of this flick to allow them to take a long, long break from film-making. So, Tenacious D, do something for your fans and their long suffering partners, go on hiatus, for a very, very long time. Thanks again for allowing me to finance your comfortable life style. I have never burned money before but I feel that if you decide to do this again, instead of going to see the film, I will just go out back and set fire to a $20.00 bill. I believe I will gain much more satisfaction from doing that than having to watch you again. I will also not have to feel as though I have ENABLED this duo again.)

Being a fan of Jack Black, I was really looking forward to 'Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny'. It starts off with a metal song and a young Tenacious D running off to Hollywood to become a rock star, promising an entertaining film at the least. But things go rapidly downhill ever since Kyle Gass appears on screen. The film loses focus at times and shifts to silly subplots here and there. The soundtrack is great and that's what kept me watching along with Jack Black, who is good while the rest of the cast are annoying. Having watched 'School of Rock' not too long ago, perhaps I was expecting something on that level but to me the humour in 'Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny' did not work and I found most of it irritating.