The Rocker (12A)

WHAT comes next after you've done The Full Monty? Apparently, you just stand around holding your tackle.

Director Peter Cattaneo made the top Brit stripcom 11 years ago, and netted an Oscar nomination, an MBE and worldwide adoration and glory for his trouble.

Since then? He's done almost beggar-all.

Now he's back with The Rocker-an American teen comedy about a sacked glam rock drummer (think Pete Best in Spandex) who's given a second shot at fame with his young nephew's emo band.

Rainn Wilson, from the US version of The Office, stars as the failed Spinal Tap-style scarecrow.

But he doesn't have the star quality to carry it, given that he's not a star. And the role stinks of polite refusals from Jack Black and Will Ferrell.

But despite all that, as teen films go this is funny and charming.

There are some great one-liners, quite a few of which go to Anchorman babe Christina Applegate, who plays the young lead guitarist's mum.

And the music itself is firmly in the High School Musical/Camp Rock vein.

Not rock in the traditional sense, granted. But The Commercial Emo Papmonger wouldn't have worked on the poster.

OUT FRIDAY

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