Discovering the Heartbeat of Rock’s Greatest Hits

Read Time:4 Minute, 0 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Count Me In
–

Genre: Documentary, Music
Year Released: 2021, 2025
Runtime: 1h 22m
Director(s): Mark Lo
Where to Watch: Available exclusively on demand starting April 14, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: The spotlight rarely lands on the rhythm keepers of music—the drummers who often lurk quietly behind their kits, overshadowed by guitarists or vocalists. Mark Lo aims to flip that script with COUNT ME IN, a lively documentary designed to let these percussionists take center stage. The movie immediately creates an inviting atmosphere, connecting us all to something familiar. This down-to-earth entry point effectively humanizes its featured artists, showing them as relatable people before revealing their transformation into musical legends.

The documentary's decision to center on the personal stories of famed drummers like Stewart Copeland, Cindy Blackman Santana, Taylor Hawkins, Chad Smith, Roger Taylor, and Nick Mason offers a core that makes the film hit home. Their individual experiences help bridge the gap between casual viewers and dedicated music fans, offering a universal look at the passion that drives these musicians. Each artist’s excitement for drumming is evident, naturally spilling into engaging conversations that pull viewers in. Their honesty is a winning formula that grounds the documentary and ensures audiences won’t need insider knowledge to enjoy it.

Rather than merely listing their accomplishments, the film thoughtfully explains how each drummer fundamentally changed the role of rhythm in rock music. The insights shared about these iconic performers are captivating because they move beyond mere nostalgia to underline their lasting impact on music history. However, an opportunity was missed here to provide fresh or deeper insight into these well-known legends—perhaps focusing on overlooked details of their playing styles or offering anecdotes rarely heard.

The movie faces a significant limitation: it primarily spotlights British rock drummers from the 1960s and '70s, creating an imbalance in its storytelling. Drummers who shaped rhythm in other major music genres, like funk or soul, get virtually no attention. Many contemporary artists are absent; it is a missed chance to explore a broader and richer narrative. The filmmakers could have added diversity by expanding beyond rock, which would have offered viewers a more complete and exciting exploration of drumming’s impact across music.

The documentary truly comes alive when the musical scenes are allowed space, such as a drum-off featuring several musicians riffing off one another in spontaneity. Unfortunately, moments like these are infrequent, leaving audiences craving more energetic, free-flowing segments throughout.

A brief but intriguing section addresses how drum machines disrupted traditional drumming. Highlighting the return to live drumming sparked by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl offers a captivating angle.

The film includes insightful perspectives from women drummers like Cindy Blackman Santana and Jess Bowen. Their experiences navigating a historically male-dominated field add a valuable dimension to the documentary.

Overall, COUNT ME IN succeeds as a fun and informative documentary that effectively highlights drumming’s role in popular music. While it doesn’t always explore as widely or deeply as it could, the sincere passion expressed by the featured musicians makes it thoroughly enjoyable. For casual viewers and those curious about the people behind the beats, this documentary provides an accessible introduction and a satisfying viewing experience. The result could have been even stronger if the filmmakers had boldened their approach—embracing greater diversity in music styles, providing extended musical performances, and exploring deeper emotional connections to rhythm.

Nevertheless, the charm, warmth, and sincere enthusiasm make COUNT ME IN worth watching. It reminds viewers that behind every memorable song, there’s a drummer passionately laying down the beat, finally giving these underrated musicians the recognition they deserve.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching Overly Honest Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of LEVEL 33 ENTERTAINMENT]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive free items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl, Books, etc. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support in navigating these links.