Rainn or shine

The Rocker sees Rainn play drummer Robert 'Fish' Fishman, a man so unlucky he was booted from his own metal band just before they made it big. His dreams are shattered but, 20 years on, he gets a second shot - with his nephew's high school band… Neil Davey caught up with Rainn to discuss drumming, comedy and the smooching of Christina Applegate. You must be pleased with the reaction to the film? "Yeah, audiences have really responded to The Rocker and they've been doing all these test screenings and word of mouth screenings and people have just been really enjoying it. It's just a lot of fun. It's good old fashioned fun for the whole family in a neat little rock 'n roll package." Have you watched it with a crowd? "I haven't seen it in a while but I saw one of the first test screenings and it's been cut down a lot since then, it has a much better edit. I'd love to see it again with another crowd." What drew you to the script? "I had a little break from a TV show, The Office -maybe you've heard of it?! - and a bunch of movie stuff I was trying to get off the ground fell apart and then this script showed up and I loved the outrageous the physical, rock ‘n’ roll comedy. I’d never really thought about combining physical comedy and rock ‘n’ roll in such a fun, silly way. At the same time I was drawn in by the characters and I loved the character of Fish and the journey he makes, growing up and finding himself, in the course of the film. I find it heart warming and touching as well." Any musical ambitions of your own? "I grew up playing a lot of really nerdy musical instruments like clarinet and bassoon and the xylophone. I was in a marching band… but then, in my senior year, I was in a rock ‘n’ roll band. We started a band called The Collected Moss - a Rolling Stone reference - and it was a travesty. It was the worst rock band EVER. EVER on the planet. We would do covers of any song that any of us liked, you couldn’t vote no, so I’d have us doing The Clash and Elvis Costello and The Beat and the guitar player wanted solos, so we’d do a Grateful Dead song and Steppenwolf’s Magic Carpet Ride. It was ludicrous." Is there any footage of this? "Thank god, no. There is no footage of The Collected Moss." What were / are your comedy influences? "You’re one of my great comedy influences. You inspire me. Greatly. Thank you for that." You’re welcome. "Growing up I just loved all the silly old movies, the physical comedy, I’d spend all weekend just watching old movies on TV. I loved Jerry Lewis, the Marx Borthers, Three Stooges, Harold Lloyd… then growing up, I watched more TV sitcoms, Mary Tyler Moore, M*A*S*H, Bob Newhart, All In The Family, all those classic old TV series of the 70s. And here I am getting paid to do a lot of outrageous physical comedy. It’s great." How did you prepare for the role of Fish? Particularly with regard to the nudity – was there any hitting of gym? "No. This guy don’t hit no gyms. I’m not a Matthew McConaughey kind of actor. I’m working on a one-pack. The naked drumming didn’t really bother me: I think it’s anything for a laugh and if it’s from my naked body, so be it. I found the character of Fish by taking drumming lessons and finding out about Heavy Metal drumming. Then you put on the wig, and you put on the tight leather pants, and you’re doing the Heavy Metal face… You’re playing along with a Heavy Metal classic and all of a sudden you have a character. It’s not a miracle or a transformation or ‘method’ or anything. That’s just how you find a Heavy Metal drummer character." And you get to play opposite, and kiss, Christina Applegate. That sounds like a good day at the office. "That was so exciting. I’m such a fan of Christina Applegate, I was a huge fan of hers in Anchorman, I thought she was the best thing in that movie. Everything she’s in, she’s so funny and charming and effortless, but she grounds it, she keeps it entirely real. We were so lucky to get her. And I get to smooch with her." Was that in the script? "No. I insisted that be added or I’d walk." The Rocker is on general release from 17 October.