123. Rock The Kasbah; movie review

ROCK THE KASBAH
Cert 15
106 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language

I couldn't argue with anyone who said that Bill Murray has been playing versions of the same role for 30 years. But, hey, I still love him.
Murray's character in Barry Levisnon's Rock The Kasbah is more upbeat than those in Groundhog Day and Scrooged but he has the same worn-out idiosyncrasies.
And that helps him negotiate a far-fetched but, ultimately, heart-warming storyline.
Murray plays Richie Lanz, an agent who is waiting to return to the big time after being a high roller in the 1970s and 80s.
He manages a talented young singer (Zooey Deschanel) but she is not making as many waves as he hoped and so he takes the chance to make some decent money by agreeing that she should play to troops in Afghanistan.
This is where the story descends into chaos with his singer storming off, a mercenary (Bruce Willis) threatening to kill him and a high-class call girl (Kate Hudson) giving him the most exotic night of his life.
Along this erratic path, he hears the beautiful voice of a young village girl (Leem Lubany) and, despite almost insurmountable obstacles tries to make her famous on Afghan Star (the hugely popular equivalent of American Idol).
The backdrop of Afghanistan during conflict is integral to the film's comedy with surprise bombings, the black market and tribal sensitivities all part of the intoxicating mix.
The cultural gap between Lanz, the archetypal Western fixer and the traditional Afghans who have never before allowed a woman to sing on live television, is stark and well played.
Rock The Kasbah has failed to rock many critics but, while I acknowledge the plot stretches credibility, I found it disarming,

Reasons to watch: Bill Murray at his heart-warming best
Reasons to avoid: Its plot stretches credibility to its very limit

Laughs: two
Jumps: one
Vomit: yes
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7.5/10

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