Ian Ok! I love stories about artists - writers, poets, artists, musicians, comedians - but I really didn't expect to like this. Two of the writers are also the directors and one of the writers is also the star! Recipe for disaster!Except it's not quite. It's billed simplay as a comedy but it's more a delayed rom com. The progression through the story is engaging. Adam Carolla (who I have never heard of, unlike some reviewers here) plays an excellent part and Diane Farr is simply brilliant as the love interest. The other actors are excellent, too, even those in bit pats and there are far too many to mention.It may not be a laugh-out-loud movie - that depends on your frame of mind when watching it - but it is 'amusing' and it did keep me watching. It's a solid piece of work and if you enjoy a touch of rom with your com or simply like to see a little of the world of stand up then this will be worth your while.

schuster_mark Wow, what a surprise. Wasn't expecting much from this film tonight. Got a free AMAZON PRIME subscription and decided to check out some films this week. Tonight was "Road Hard". I thought, if it sucks i can flip it off after 10 minutes, no hassle - just find another. But after an hour I was still engaged. I'm not engaged easily.First and foremost, this is a very well written movie. The dialog is honest, true - and funny. That's a hard combination to do and do well. Perhaps it's because I'm a middle aged man searching for all the same answers Bruce Madsen was, or just simply appreciated the honesty in the script, acting and dialog. Whoever cast this film should get a huge pat on the back. You know some films where your 10 minutes in and think "who the hell cast this thing, none of these actors have chemistry or remotely fit their characters!!!". Been there, done that. Not here. No way. This is perfection. Yes, there are several well known actors in this film, but several that aren't - and EVERYONE does a fantastic job. The story flows like a river knowing where it's going - and the actors tug at your heart frequently.It's films like this that re-instill my faith in Hollywood. That make me more willing to take a chance on a film, even though a major, proved actor isn't a part of it. This film is so much better than so many other films I've seen this year with a budget much larger. What a gem. What a diamond in the rough. Don't hesitate, watch this. You won't be sorry!

rkhen Unlike many here, I had never heard of Adam Carolla before I happened on this movie. I liked it. Yeah, it's a little formula. But it does the formula well. Would it have worked as a big-budget Hollywood rom-com? Who cares? The home movie feel of it is a character in its own right. The performances are all good, the main plot is brilliant (stand-up who's so-so on-stage but hilarious in real life; good set-up for a portrait of a guy busting his head to make it in show-biz), and Howie Mandel kills as himself in a bit part that's simultaneously reality-TV immediate and probably not him at all.Bottom line: this guy did good with what he had. It's watchable. You'll wish the character well. You'll understand his predicament. You'll be glad you rode along on his roller-coaster.

justinchend I love Ace. I am one of donors in the credits of this movie.Man, was this movie disappointing. And listening to Adam complain about critics' reviews is incredibly frustrating. (The LA Times's review, for example, is spot on. Negative reviews have nothing to do with Ace's politics.) A few illustrative points: 1. Show vs. Tell. Everywhere The Hammer succeeded -- construction, boxing, career frustration, romance, physical training -- it worked because the movie demonstrated those themes, without "telling" the viewer about the themes. Not so with Road Hard. Bruce was frustrated with his career; he describes his frustration. Bruce thinks he's funny; he says he's funny. Bruce can't stand his ex-wife; he says he can't stand his ex-wife. And so forth. The one exception to this is the nice conceit in which Bruce's stand-up routine is a voice-over for an actual on-the-road encounter with a motel receptionist.2. Baby Doll. Oh, do I love Larry Miller. Oh, is this character lacking. In everything. It is a bad parody of bad showbiz agent parodies.3. Diane Farr Romance. Not one part of this relationship was believable. From the way Farr's character off-handedly notes her first husband's death (?!?), to Bruce's heretofore unmentioned passion for woodworking upon his arrival at her workshop, to the climax of the movie ... it felt awfully rushed, like all the real exposition was on the cutting room floor.4. Bruce. Question: is he the hero of this movie? Meaning, are we cheering for him? If yes, that's a problem, because he's a terrible person. This is the central hang-up in the movie. He treats his friends badly, his fans badly, and his potential employers badly. Then bitches about it. Daily listeners to Ace know it's obvious he loves his friends and family, and they know his other redemptive qualities. Bruce has none of them. His pure bitterness culminates in the dead-on-arrival, needlessly hateful line he gives to the homosexual casting agent. THIS is joke that makes the whole movie sink, for a lot of the reviewers. It may as well have been Bruce saying, "Shut up, faggot." It missed, by a long ways.Others: the music was off, the stand-up felt like filler, and the reference to DAG's brilliant Teddy Pendegrast routine was limply presented.All that said, I'll donate to the next venture.