Tenacious D first gained attention as the background band in 1996’s Bio-Dome. Their brief appearance on a college campus, screaming about saving some f****** trees, was simply background fodder with potential.
A decade later, after earning mainstream fame for comedy-rock bangers and ballads like “Tribute” and “Wonder Boy,” the duo finally landed their own feature-length buddy comedy, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. This time, they don’t sing about trees; they smoke them. A lot of them.
Playing out like a rock opera with a companion album perfect for blasting on your morning commute, The Pick of Destiny was never built for critical acclaim or commercial success. It flopped at the box office but found a second life on DVD and streaming, where it became a certified cult classic.
It’s easy to see why: it’s a musical fantasy, buddy comedy, rock opera driven primarily by stoner humor. Not exactly a mainstream outing. Still, if you’re the target audience for The Pick of Destiny, you’ll feel right at home.
Can’t You See He’s The Man, Let Me Hear You Applaud!
Jack Black is Jack Black in The Pick of Destiny, playing a fictionalized, exaggerated version of himself, or maybe just himself on a normal day. His larger-than-life personality blurs the line between actor and character so it’s hard to tell sometimes.
Kyle Gass, also playing himself, nails the role of “riding Jack Black’s coattails,” as he proudly admits whenever he does press. Together, they form Tenacious D, the self-proclaimed “most rockinest band in the world.”
Jack runs away from home as a child when his religious father, Bud (Meat Loaf), bans him from listening to metal because of its satanic imagery. On the streets, Jack meets Kyle, a guitarist who’s equal parts skilled and stoned. With Jack’s powerhouse vocals and Kyle’s riffs, they form Tenacious D and start playing open mics to mixed reactions and heckling crowds.
When they discover the legend of the titular Pick of Destiny, said to be forged from Satan’s tooth, they set out to find it, believing it will make them rock gods. The pick’s power brings fame, ego, and tension between the two as they wrestle with their dreams, pride, and figure out how to pay rent.
The Best Way To View The Pick Of Destiny
At its core, The Pick of Destiny thrives through its music. When I got the companion album a week before the movie’s release, I was underwhelmed when I finally went to see it. Like most good musicals, the songs give away the story beats, so I already knew how things would end. Maybe the idea was for audiences to sing along in theaters, but judging by the blank stares around me, most people showed up expecting a standard Jack Black comedy.
The Pick of Destiny works better on repeat viewings. Once you’re familiar with the songs and their transitions, the story hits harder. “Storm the Gates” is hilarious as an audio track of Jack narrating his heist plans in real time, but watching him perform it on screen makes it special.
Dave Grohl’s cameo as the Devil is pure joy as well. Watching him shred on one of the coolest drum kits ever put to film is worth the price of admission alone.
Streaming The Pick Of Destiny
The Pick of Destiny doesn’t try to be clever or sophisticated. It’s crude, loud, and proud of it. Every song, joke, and performance is delivered with reckless confidence that only Tenacious D could pull off.
The dialogue might not win any awards, but that’s not the point. This movie exists purely for fun, and it delivers on that promise. Love it or hate it, at least one song will be stuck in your head long after the credits roll.
The Pick of Destiny is streaming free on Tubi.
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