Road Hard

First off, I think that Adam Carolla is hilarious and listen to his Podcast almost daily. However, when watching this movie, I felt as though I was watching his Podcast playing out in cinema form. Now, this probably wouldn't be a bad thing for viewers who do not listen to his Podcast. Almost every bit/joke in the movie I have literally heard over and over from his podcast.

The funniest bits from the movie are when Adam is telling jokes during live stand up shows in the comedy clubs. I know it's a comedy but some things are just over the top, like the portrayal of his quirky Agent Baby Doll. How many wig jokes can you make in a movie? This movie was very disappointing and in my opinion not very funny regardless of every joke already being heard on his podcasts. I know Adam is not an actor per say, but he's bad in this movie. He shows almost no emotion and he's very stiff throughout the entire movie. The supporting actors are also not very funny.

I really wanted to like this movie because I think that Adam Carolla is a comical genius, but in reality, he needs to stick to his Podcast and TV shows because being an actor in movies is not in his wheelhouse.

Adam Carolla co-wrote, co-directed and stars as Bruce Madsen. A comedian who made it big with a hit sitcom but since it ended, he is back on the road playing small clubs while his former partner is a successful talk show host.

Bruce lives in the garage of his former marital home. His ex wife does not like him being in her house even to visit their adopted daughter who is looking to go to college. Bruce is happy in the garage, he spent more time there when he was married doing woodwork.

Bruce is funny, his humour is acerbic. Bruce knows this and he sees himself as being funnier than a lot of comedians that are on television. However as his very successful ex comedy partner Jack Taylor (Jay Mohr) reminds him that Bruce did not play the game to stay at the top. Being funny is not enough to sustain a showbiz career.

Road Hard is a bittersweet comedy looking at life of a comedian who is past his prime. It actually is funny in a low key way. Obviously Carolla has seen guys like Bruce or he might even be Bruce himself. However Carolla is not a strong enough actor here, his character comes across as one note. It is also hard to sympathise with his character. Bruce's agent (Larry Miller) and friends are correct that if only he kissed some butt and played the game, he would be more successful.

"Road Hard" is a watchable, though fairly uninteresting comedy.

Few comedy movies are funny, and even fewer American comedians are. The movie and the protagonist don't break either mould, though Carolla is likable as the lead.

I didn't like this one as much as his movie "The Hammer", which was a lot more interesting. It's a movie about a down-on-his-luck comedian travelling around doing shows with varying degrees of failure. He used to be on a TV show called "The Bro Show" and his co-star, played by Jay Mohr, is now hosting a Letterman-style TV show that is the highest rated in the US.

I think the movie needed more moments of truth. There is one monologue Carolla gives about having to compete with Youtube stars as a middle aged comedian. The movie needed more bits like that; many of the aspects of Carolla's character, like him having an adopted Asian daughter, and his weird, wig wearing manager, seem too obviously fake and forced.

There is something particularly embittered about a comedian on skid row. Being forced to find humour in a dark situation, and being funny on stage when their life off it is anything but. "Road Hard" would have done better to embrace this, rather than avoid it.

I'd love to see this material handled by the likes of Todd Solondz.

My quick rating - 6,0/10. I know this may be biased since I do remember the days of being in junior high and staying up late to listen to Drew and Adam on Loveline late at night before bed. Adam Corolla was always and still is a very witty comedian which is basically what this movie is about. I am not sure just how accurate this movie is but I know a lot of it is his story. That being said, his acting is just him being, well, him. The additional characters in the movie do a good job in support, even to the point of ridiculous (Larry Miller stole the show here as Baby Doll) Even when there was time to show a bit of emotion it still was believable. Overall a funny drama about the stand up world that I am sure is very true for some and worth a watch to fans of comedy.

' ' ' Yeah! One of the few movies I've had laugh-out-loud moments in, for years.

Carolla really nails the mid-life crisis moments of a career gone off the rails, slowly, inexorably, unexplainably, or really never having one, as one turns the corner in life to realize it ain't gonna happen. Every man will recognise Carolla's character, sack-kicks, the humiliation and smile to themselves.

The smoking/credit card scene is worth the price of admission.

They don't make movies like this anymore—Although they just did, eh?—as it's just a decent story, with good character development.

John Candy used do flicks like this, that didn't do box-office boffo, but were just good little flicks.

I think this'll do a lot better in rotation, than it did in the theatres.

It's for a different audience than your action-oriented fan but well worth the time.

SweetDoug