Rock of Ages (2012)
Certified: 16
Duration: 123 minutes
Directed by: Adam Shankman
Starring: Julianne Hough; Diego Boneta; Tom Cruise; Russell Brand; Paul Giamatti; Alec Baldwin; Catherine Zeta-Jones; Mary J. Blige; Malin Akerman; Bryan Cranston
KRS release
Rock of Ages may be cheesy and corny, disjointed and extravagant but I really enjoyed it.
It is a trip back to the 1980s, to tunes that were simply infectious and to the time when hairspray was simply the thing.
In a few words, it is a very welcome return to the age of kitsch.
The music is nothing extreme, so non-metal heads will definitely enjoy tunes from the likes of Foreigner, Joan Jett, Poison and Def Leppard, among others.
Set in the late 1980s when hair metal was king, Rock of Ages sees young Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough) arriving in Los Angeles with stars in her eyes.
Straight off the bus, her case full of rock records is stolen and she meets with bartender Drew Boley (Diego Boneta) who, like her, is an aspiring singer.
He ends up getting her a job at The Bourbon Club where he works.
The Bourbon’s owner, Dennis Dupree (Alec Baldwin), has cash troubles but, along with club manager Lonny (Russell Brand), he believes that the upcoming gig by famous Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) will turn the club’s fortunes.
Stacee had first started in The Bourbon and, now that he is leaving his band behind him and going solo, this gig would be perfect.
However, Stacee is having a psychological fallout, talking more to his pet baboon than to other people.
His manager Paul Gill (Paul Giamatti) gets him an interview with Constance Sack (Malin Ackerman) from Rolling Stone magazine – an interview that will have serious consequences.
Meanwhile, Drew and Sherrie become quite the couple and Drew is given the chance to open for Stacee.
Soon he is on his own path to fame and fortune, casting Sherrie aside when he thinks she slept with Stacee. So Sherrie ends up taking a job at a gentleman’s club.
Mayor Mike Whitmore and his wife Patricia (Bryan Cranston and Catherine Zeta Jones) go on a crusade to close The Bourbon and Stacee’s life spirals more out of control.
Young actors Mr Boneta and Ms Hough present a whiff of fresh air but the real stars here are the veteran actors.
First off, Mr Giamatti is a perfect slime ball who wants to milk the talent for all its worth.
And Mr Cruise is simply the boss of this film. He looks like a spaced-out rock demigod, a sort of cross between Jon Bon Jovi and Axl Rose.
As already said, there is nothing new or groundbreaking in this film but it is infectious, tremendous and rip-roaring fun. It simply goes to show that rock ’n’ roll is here to stay!