TENACIOUS D
IN THE PICK OF DESTINY
Year: 2006
USA: New Line Cinema
UK: Entertainment Film Distributors
Cast: Jack Black, Kyle Gass, JR Reed, Ned Bellamy, Fred Armisen, Ronnie James Dio, Meat Loaf, Amy Poehler, Paul F Tompkins, Troy Gentile, Kirk Ward, Tim Robbins, Ben Stiller, David Grohl, Lara Everly, Brittany Eldridge, Melissa-Anne Davenport, Amy Adams, Colin Hanks, John C Reilly, David Krumholtz, David Koechner
Director: Liam Lynch
Country: USA
USA: 93 mins
USA & UK: 94 mins
USA Rated: R for pervasive language, sexual content and drug use
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language, drug use and sex references
USA Release Date: 22 November 2006
UK Release Date: 24 November 2006
Synopsis
There were two earth-shattering events that took place in Los Angeles in 1994: the Northridge earthquake and the birth of Tenacious D, the band headed by Jack Black and Kyle Gass.
The two met as members of the Actor's Gang, an ensemble theatre troupe in Los Angeles founded by Tim Robbins, where they discovered their mutual love of rock and roll. The hugely popular underground cult rock duo, Tenacious D, make their startling big-screen debut in TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY, and what a debut it is! With the raucous energy, edgy humor and heavy metal sounds that made their sold out concerts and platinum CDs instant pop-culture classics, this hilarious epic follows JB (Jack Black) and KG (Kyle Gass) - the two halves of 'The D' - as they journey across time and space (well, California actually) in search of the mystical key that will open the doors to complete and total rock-and-roll super-stardom.
The movie begins with 10-year old Lil' JB (Troy Gentile) serenading his ultra-conservative, very religious family with a rocking rendition of "Kickapoo," a song written expressly for the movie with lyrics that would make a sailor blush. When his father (Meat Loaf), who believes rock 'n' roll is the devil's work, unleashes his belt and shows him no mercy, tearing down all of his beloved rock posters, JB implores Dio (Ronnie James Dio), one of his rock Gods, for guidance. Dio reassures him that he is on the right path but he must leave his stifling home environment and go to Hollywood to "find the secrets of his art."
Slipping out of the house, Lil' JB spends the next several years on the road stopping at numerous towns called Hollywood. JB (Jack Black) finally arrives in rock 'n' roll Mecca - Hollywood, California and strolling along the Venice boardwalk, he is enthralled by the music of KG (Kyle Gass) a troubadour playing Bach's "Bourrees in E Minor" on a classical guitar. A friendship after many ups and downs is formed and a band is born.
In serious financial straits their only hope is to win Open Mic Night at Al's Bar but proves much harder than they ever imagined. Then Fate intervenes: they notice that every cover photo in their collection of Rolling Stone magazines show all the great rockers using the same peculiar guitar pick. Racing to The Guitar Center to buy one, the store manager has an acute reaction when they show him the covers.
Leading them to a private room, the ex-guitar tech turned rock historian relates a strange tale involving a wizard, black magic, a blacksmith, a fair maiden and a great demon with a chipped tooth. He tells them the history of The Pick of Destiny - the darkest secret in the history of rock. Going all the way back to the Dark Ages, the Pick has passed through many hands, from Mozart to the British Invasion - punk, new wave, metal. In the United States, it spawned the blues and rock 'n' roll. The Pick, he informs them, now resides in the Rock and Roll History Museum - an impenetrable fortress.
A hilarious musical adventure, TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY, follows JB and KG on their quest to obtain the Pick and become the Greatest Band on Earth.
Over-the-top zany, TENACIOUS D: IN THE PICK OF DESTINY combines great music, hilarious comedy and a host of outrageous surprise celebrity cameos. Rock and roll may never be the same.
Starring Jack Black (KING KONG, SCHOOL OF ROCK) and Kyle Gass (ELF, SHALLOW HAL); written by Black and Gass (TENACIOUS D: THE COMPLETE MASTERWORKS). Directed by Liam Lynch (TENACIOUS D THE COMPLETE MASTERWORKS). Produced by Ben Stiller (DODGEBALL, STARSKY AND HUTCH).