This film is a fictionalized biopic about parody artist Weird Al Yankovic's rise to stardom. It was impossible to be excited about this one, as I grew up loving Weird Al's music. I was even more excited about it being a parody of biopic films made me even more excited, as that was perfect for Weird Al. I am very relieved to say that "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" is such a fun time in its entirety.
With Weird Al Yankovic co-writing the script, it was guaranteed to be hilarious. There were multiple times when I laughed the hardest during a film all year long. A large part of this is due to Daniel Radcliffe's excellent portrayal of Weird Al, as he seamlessly embodies what we love about the artist. The comedy is quick, sharp and never feels out of place or cringey. Best of all, the comedy flows effortlessly in the film and its pace. There are also so many cameos that were incredibly fun to point out as well.
Deciding to write this film as fictional and over-exaggerated was genius, but its execution was even better. There are countless absurd moments that are played off for comedy, and it all works perfectly. Biopics can be very tedious these days, as they have a similar pattern: a kid who has a dream with parents who do not believe in it, barely scraping by before their big break, having the fame get to their head and they push back their friends who helped them. This film pokes fun at how biopics choose to follow that formula.
While I immensely enjoyed the film, it is far from perfect. The biggest complaint I have is the storyline with Madonna. It was not unbearable by any means, but there could have been a better way to fit the film's tone to drive the plot forward. Also, the film's second half slowed down and felt very different from the first half. I would have liked to spend a little more time with Weird Al and his rise to stardom, as well as his music. There were great scenes of him getting ideas for songs and performing them, but I wish more of his songs were given the spotlight.
You would be hard-pressed to find somebody who would not enjoy "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story." It is hilarious, has great music, is a good time for everybody and outshines all of the film's imperfections. This is a perfect film to put on with your family or to just have on in the background. It is a must-watch for anyone who grew up listening to Weird Al's music.
Rating: 7.5/10