‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Hard as Steel Ultimate Edition’ Blu-ray movie review

Filmmaker Judd Apatow’s musical mockumentary highlighting the troubled life and illustrious career of one of America’s most treasured singers returns to the Blu-ray disc format and encased in metal in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Hard as Steel Ultimate Edition (Mill Creek Entertainment, not rated, 96 minutes, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, $19.96).

The story first covers the early years of Dewey Cox in Springberry Alabama. Shunned by an overbearing and vengeful father (Raymond J. Barry) — after the death of his older, more talented brother (a tragic machete accident) — Cox found solace playing the blues and writing music while struggling with his traumatic loss of smell.

Viewers then witness his rise to stardom, battles with addiction, meeting his true love Darlene (Jenna Fischer) and Cox’s blossoming and eventual fading superstardom through highlights of live performances and recorded achievements of a decades-long musical legacy.

Cox’s career mirrors moments that one might have found in the lives of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Brian Wilson, Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan, all played out in gut-busting, ribald hilarity.

Just a few of the highlights include Cox’s first recording session of the hit “Walk Hard,” orchestrated by his Hasidic Jewish managers, his orchestrating of a chaotic masterpiece in the vein of The Beach Boys’ “Smile” and meeting the Beatles and going on a “Yellow Submarine”-style, animated LSD trip.

Mr. Apatow and his team skewer many a music biopic and genre while offering an eye-watering soundtrack of original songs anchored by the hilarious and risqué ballad “Let’s Duet” and covering genres such as country, rockabilly, blues, rock, rap and even punk.

Also, pay close attention to an avalanche of guest star appearances including Harold Ramis (“Ghostbusters”) as the Hasidic record executive L’Chaim, Kristen Wiig as Dewey’s first wife Edith, Jonah Hill as the older ghost of Cox’s brother, Jack Black as Paul McCartney, Paul Rudd as John Lennon, Frankie Munoz as Buddy Holly, Jane Lynch as a clueless entertainment reporter and musician Jack White as Elvis.

The venerable John C. Reilly manhandles the role of Cox delivering by far his most hilarious performance to date as he crafts a complex character with numbskull naivete and showcasing brilliant parody chops and singing skills.

Viewers can choose from the theatrical cut or “The Unbearably Long, Self-Indulgent Director’s Cut” adding a whopping 24 minutes to the movie.

The high definition format offers only an adequate presentation with some grain but color over saturation is apparent in areas especially highlighted when a dominance of reds can wash out areas of the screen.

Best extras: Mill Creek culls most of the bonus content from Sony’s 2008 Unrated Edition Blu-ray release and spreads it out over the two-disc set.

Both cuts of the movie offer a pop culture reference-packed optional commentary track with Mr. Apatow, Mr. Reilly, director Jake Kasdan and producer Lew Morton.

The boys like to laugh and have plenty to point out in the film, although often going off on hilarious tangents and making for a very satisfying listen.

Next, the Cox mythos gets extended by a 15-minute expose featuring real artists such as Sheryl Crowe explaining the importance of the singer and followed by a 19-minute sit-down with the older legend interviewed by Daily Show reporter John Hodgman.

Viewers can also go behind the scenes with 15 minutes on the production and 17 minutes covering creating the songs.

Also, and perhaps most rewarding for the hardcore Cox fans, are watching the full performances of 16 songs including “Guilty as Charged,” “(I Hate You) Big Daddy,” “A Life Without You,” “Let’s Duet” and “Star Man.”

And, in this Wal-Mart exclusive release, viewers get a SteelBook case featuring the title of the movie behind flames and Cox in a nearly full body shot, lip pursed and holding his hollow-body guitar like a machine gun while rocking hard.

The rear of the case has Dewey on stage in a white suit facing the audience with hollow body guitar slung behind his back and arms raised in triumph.

Open the case to access the discs and behind them, on the left, is a promo shot of Cox and his band during the late 1950s in bowling shirts and to the right has Cox bent over on all fours with an acoustic guitar while showing off a giant split in the buttocks area of his pants.

The attractive price and SteelBook certainly help make this the current definitive release for fans until Sony decides to deliver an ultra-high definition version of the film.