Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is getting great reviews and is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 86 percent score. Weird Al is synonymous with music parodies, so it only makes sense that a movie about his life would be a parody of other musician biopics, and critics are praising both the humor and heart of the finished product.
While Weird Al has been making popular parodies for over 40 years, his unique brand of zany humor doesn't necessarily cater to broad appeal. His last movie, UHF, saw mediocre reviews and a poor box office in 1989, so the critical success of Weird: The Al Yankovic is a good sign. Starring Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al and featuring a slew of other big cameos from big-name celebrities, Weird: The Al Yankovic reviews say it's as crazy as anyone could expect from a fictional biopic about the most famous parody maker.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Positive Reviews
The reviews for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story are praising the movie's humor, which is described as "crazy," a "fever dream," and "ridiculous," but most reviews also say the movie still manages to bring the story back to a sweet, charming place in the end. The cast gets particular praise, including a swathe of surprise celebrity cameos. Critics say the movie swings for the fences, and even if that means it's too ambitious at times, that's all a part of the Weird Al charm. Here are a few examples:
"Weird is an absolutely charming and often hilarious look at the world’s greatest parody musician, packed with an excellent cast that wants to pay tribute to this weird man. Weird dares to be stupid and succeeds because of it."
"Weird Al” Yankovic is an entertaining biopic about the eccentric musician who rose to fame remaking other artist's music by rewriting the lyrics.
"Even if it's not as bold as it could have been, Weird is still endearing and fun to watch, full of classic Weird Al songs and tons of celebrity cameos."
"An alternative-facts fever dream so bent on the certifiably ridiculous that it circles back around somehow to sweetness."
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Mixed or Negative Reviews
While the majority of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story reviews are positive, there are some more mixed, or even a few negative reactions. Some critics say the movie can get a little too crazy and become tedious or tiresome by the end. Most critics tend to agree that the movie is ambitious, although some of the more negative reactions say it ultimately bites off more than it can chew and simply "runs out of gas" by the end. Despite these complaints, many of the reviews are still positive, with only a few being counted as "Rotten" in Rotten Tomatoes.
"Despite “Weird” inevitably biting off more than it can chew, the actual performances of Yankovic’s hit songs have a comfortable nostalgia factor and the various inside jokes to his career will certainly delight the “Weird Al” fanatic."
"Sure, it’s clever at first, but after a while it starts to feel like you’re watching yet another tiresome biopic that hits the same beats as every other biopic—except this one is supposed to be fake and funny."
"Unlike Yankovic's best songs, this spoof's inspired goofiness eventually runs out of gas, growing more and more outrageous without coming up with comparably choice gags."
"Eric Appel’s irably ambitious and intermittently inspired funhouse take on Yankovic’s life and times runs out of gas well before the finish line."
Despite the few detractors saying movie's charm doesn't make it to the finish line, the vast majority of critics agree the musical biopic parody is both funny and endearing, like the notorious nice guy, Weird Al, himself. As always, reviews are subjective, so take any critic reaction with a grain of salt, but with 87 percent from critics and 90 percent from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, it would seem Weird: The Al Yankovic story is a hit with viewers across the board.
