Bill Murray is as acerbic and hilarious as ever in Rock the Kasbah, a new stranger-in-a-strange-land-themed comedy movie.
The Oscar-nominated actor and comedy genius plays a washed up rock tour manager named Richie Lanz who gets stranded in Afghanistan, not exactly the rock n' roll capital of the world, and discovers new talent in the form of Salima, played by Leem Lubany, who starred in the Oscar-nominated film Omar and hails from Nazareth in Israel.
Naturally, the next step is to have her compete in the American Idol-like reality series, Afghan Star. And naturally, when you get Murray to play such a character, in such an unusual setting, hijinks will ensue.
As seen in the trailer, released this week, the actor does his best Bill Murray impression as he deadpans his way around the desert and the dusty streets, serenades the locals with an ear-piercing rendition of Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" with what appears to be a rubab and kisses a gorgeous blond woman, who may be Kate Hudson, who also stars in the film.
The movie also features Bruce Willis, who, in true Bruce Willis style, breaks out the big guns and Zooey Deschanel, who plays a singer who flies with Lanz to Afghanistan for a USO tour and abandons him and steals his money and passport, despite his tempting promise of being able to "play in front of 2,000 horny soldiers."
Eastbound & Down's Danny McBride, who appeared with the actress in Your Highness, Scott Caan and Taylor Kinney also star.
Barry Levinson, director of Good Morning, Vietnam and Diner, directed Rock the Kasbah, while Mitch Glazer penned its screenplay. He was the writer of Scrooged and Passion Play, which both starred Murray, and is also penning the script for the actor's new Netflix holiday movie, A Very Murray Christmasz.
Rock the Kasbah is set for release on Oct. 23.