Great Film overall

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Bill Murray almost always charms on screen with edgy comedic performances. (One exception is the much-touted "Groundhog Day," which this watcher thought was as annoying as a repetitive chorus in a pop song, a repetitive chorus in a pop song, as annoying.) But "Rock the Kasbah" is one of Murray's more charming films. In it, he plays a touring music manager who discovers a female daring to vocalize by herself in a cave in Afghanistan -- the law there forbids women from singing, so of course Murray represents her. Alongside this story, which is based on actual events, is a somewhat forced and perfunctory sub-plot involving guns, drugs and extortion; this is contrary to the theme of music saving the world and seems at odds with the theme of gender equality. Otherwise, this movie is a lot of fun. The bonus is Kate Hudson as a hooker who takes a break from her work to assist Murray in representing the Afghan woman. Her best line is "I fuc* like a mousekateer on crack" and the vitality she brings to her performance elipses any damage done by the thoroughly vapid Zooey Deschanel. A peace-train-rockin' soundtrack and sharp cinematography help buoy the uneven and interesting story.

The formula works for a comedy with Bill Murray. A low-down scoundrel with a good heart, redeems himself at the end by helping out an Afghan woman, to fulfill her dream of becoming a singer. Murray was his usual funny self and the best part of the movie. He played the fish-out-of- water character like we've seen numerous times before, and it works because he's Bill Murray. The funniest scene for me, was when he was singing Smoke on the Water, in front of the Afghan tribe.The movie started to drag on when it got into the geo-politics of Afghan society, where women are forbidden to sing and dance. At this stage of the movie, the comedy hit the wall and the messaging became too much of in your face and jamming it down your throat. The supporting cast was good with Willis and Deschanel. Willis has patented the tough guy with a sense of humor act and it works well here. Kate Hudson's character was too bizarre and out of place to like.

"Rock the Kasbah" revolves around a washed-up Hollywood music talent agent (Bill Murray) fortuitously booking a gig for his best singer (Zooey Deschanel) in Afghanistan, entertaining the American troops. When they arrive in-country and are greeted by security-obsessed Army types, the singer wigs out and leaves Murray flat, having stolen his money and passport. Murray somehow ends up partnering with a gun-runner (Bruce Willis), and when he accepts an overnight invitation by their warlord customer, discovers that the warlord's daughter is a musical prodigy. Murray then secretly arranges for the the daughter to sing on the Afghan version of "American Idol," which of course she wins and becomes a social and political icon to Afghan women for standing up to her devoutly Muslim, authoritarian father.If all of this seems preposterous that a broke, schlumpy American hustler could even escape getting stoned to death for all this, much less successfully promoting the young singer's television singing career, you're right. But yet, pic is somehow hypnotically engaging, and you end up rooting for the most unlikely characters.The takeaway is that pic is entertaining from the very first frame, partly because of Murray's masterful take on his character, partly because of the deft, lightning-quick direction, and of course, the inspired casting including small, supporting roles with Deschanel, Willis, and Kate Hudson (playing a POSH "working girl" turning tricks out of her ramshackle trailer near the Army base). "Rock the Kasbah" is fun! It's silly and absurd, but fun nonetheless. This is the kind of dark comedy I've needed for some time as an refreshing antidote to the big studio placebos with $200 million dollar budgets that have bored the bejesus out of me lately. "Rock the Kasbah" was produced for fifteen million, proving once again that a good script, good casting, and good direction can produce a wonderfully entertaining film without an astronomical budget.

I sat through it. Give me credit. Was it horrible? Uh, no, not horrible. Was it a good movie? Uh, no, not a good movie. Were there a couple of chuckles and did it kill time? Yes. Did it need more Zooey? Yes, oh yes. But alas, she left early on and it went downhill. I guess there was a background story here about a Afghanistan girl and a talent show and the politics involved. I get the idea but didn't buy how it was presented on screen. Probably a real important issue but this movie didn't do it justice. Give them credit for trying? Okay.There was some interesting scenery.You like Bill Murray? You want to see him be Bill? Fine, go for it. Otherwise, I doubt you make it through it.