ROCK OF AGES (2012)
DIRECTOR: Adam Shankman
STARRING: Diego Boneta, Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Ackerman, Mary J Blige
GENRE: Musical
CERT: 12A
REVIEWER: Gemma
ROCK OF AGES is your typical love story, where “a small town girl, living in a lonely world” moves to the big city to make her dreams come true. In this case, she wants to be a singer. Now those in the back groaning, I know that the recent film Burlesque had the same theme. Before you switch off, stay with me on this, Ok?
Our little town girl gets royally kicked in the butt just as she steps of the bus, when she is mugged. Yes Toto, we aren’t in Kansas anymore. Thankfully our “city boy” comes to her rescue and although he doesn’t stop the mugger, he helps her get a job in the local music club, The Bourbon Room.
Now you are asking yourself, “Why isn’t Gemma mentioning the names of our two leads?” To be honest, as I have said it’s the same story done a million times before. This time it’s set in the 80’s, the height of the 80′s Heavy Rock era. Bands like Def Leopard, ACDC, Bon Jovi and Guns ‘n’ Roses were the rock gods of the time.
We know the story inside out. We know the path it is going to take before we even set foot into the cinema. Boy and Girl meet. Boy and Girl fall in love. Boy and Girl break up over some misunderstanding. Boy and Girl live separate lives, but know they miss each other. Boy and Girl get back together. Insert any name and you have any story.
So, there are three reasons why I loved this film.
- The Music – I am a rock chick. I love music with drums and kicking riffs. Look in my iPod and you will see most of the bands mentioned above, along with the newer bands that have been inspired by them. You can’t help but mouthing along to the words and tapping your feet.
- Tom Cruise – For some reason, self-absorbed rock god is not a role you could see Tom Cruise in. He is too clean cut. Too much of the All-American good guy, yet every time he was on that screen he owned it. When he swaggered across it, he was Stacey Jaxx, lead singer of the rock band Arsenal. I’m not a Tom Cruise fan, but I can’t deny he threw himself into this role. In this film he is an 80’s rock god.
- Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin – If you can overlook Brand’s dodgy Brummy accent, then you will be able to see what I did. Baldwin and Brand’s bromance on screen is hilarious. Baldwin is a down on his luck club owner called Dennis Dupree, and Brand is his long time second in command Lonny, both providing much needed comic relief. The montage of how Lonny came to work for Dupree is just hilarious.
Overall this is a great feel good movie. There isn’t anything really new or innovative, but it’s a good piece of escapism. The director has a good grasp on how to transfer a broadway musical to the big screen, which he also did successfully before with Hairspray.
The pace moves quickly and you never look at the time. You are too busy laughing at the antics of Brand, Baldwin and Cruise or tapping along to the music. In my case, I was trying to place who sung the original songs with a few of them.
This film is the perfect antidote to all the doom and gloom that is going on the world. For a little pick me up, go see it.
RATING: 
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10 Comments
Another great film review Gemma!
Not sure if this one is my cup of tea, but it does look pretty good!
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Thanks.
Its a rainy day movie. Good if you want to watch something that needs little thought.
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Ooh I like the look of this one, and Tom Cruise look HOT. It sounds like it’s a fun movie and that’s all you want sometimes, a little bit of escapism.
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I really liked it mainly for Cruise, Baldwin and Brand (Never thought I’d say that! lol)
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I really want to see this still. I am a huge Tom Cruise fan and I think he looks wonderful in this.
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He really is great in it! I’m not a Tom Cruise fan, but he is just brilliant in this.
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I’m really enjoying your Friday Film reviews Gemma
This film sounds like great fun, I have really gone off Tom Cruise of late, it’s the Scientology thing I think, but I will bypass that as this looks cracking! And Russell Brand never fails to raise a chuckle.
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I agree with you on the whole scientology thing, but this proves that he can act and he is versitile. Brand and Baldwin are a blast in this.
Glad you like the reviews.
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I loved this movie. Why? Because of Tom Cruise…and the music. I like Tom Cruise as an actor. I think he’s good and that he strives for excellence, but I’m not a fan of his social/religious views. That being said, I can overlook his real life views and recognize true talent and, like you said, he owned this movie. Not only can he sing like the rest of them, he totally embodied the rock star with a soul in need of reawakening. Thanks for the great review, Gemma. I’m always so thrilled when someone feels the same as I did about a movie. Oh, and Russell and Alec…I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time!
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That montage scene had me in stitches.
Everyone is talking about these three. The two “leads” hardley get a look in and to be honest I can see why. They were very bland.
Thanks for the kind praise and all i can say is ROCK ON! \m/
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