{"id":2167,"date":"2012-06-17T11:21:08","date_gmt":"2012-06-17T11:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=2167"},"modified":"2012-06-17T11:21:09","modified_gmt":"2012-06-17T11:21:09","slug":"rock-of-ages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/comedy\/rock-of-ages\/","title":{"rendered":"Rock of Ages ****"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Sometimes being entertained happens in the most unexpected way. On first thought, a musical in itself is enough to make the toes curl, but one sold on dodgy rock anthems of yesteryear, overly camp costumes and cringe mullets will divide opinion further. However, go into Rock of Ages<\/em><\/a> without any high expectations or an ounce of experience of the stage musical, and Hairspray<\/em>\u2019s Adam Shankman<\/a> certainly knows how to put on one of the silliest, futile but crowd-pleasing shows in the town.<\/p>\n

Small town girl Sherrie (Julianne Hough<\/a>) and city boy Drew (Diego Boneta<\/a>, he of 90210<\/em>) meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dream of making it big in the rock business. But fame does not come easy at first and their fate has a destiny with flamboyant superstar rocker Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise<\/a>) and unscrupulous agents. Their rock ‘n’ roll romance pounds to the hits of Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake and more.<\/p>\n

The aim of this puffed up rocking panto is not to take it too seriously, and just enjoy the ensemble cast having a ball at being utterly outrageous. For those of you who spotted the younger, fresher \u2018Jen Aniston\u2019 dead ringer Hough in the remake of Footloose<\/em> \u2013 notice a musical pattern here for former ballroom dancer Hough \u2013 can again sigh over her heavenly charms and sweet, na\u00efve nature in this as she grapples with the evils of the big city like a lost, latter-day fairy-tale belle. It\u2019s hard not to like all-American gal Sherrie who alongside Drew need as much encouragement as possible on the rocky road of love and navigating the cringeable, tongue-in-cheek script.<\/p>\n

The film has its cry-out-loud funny episodes, such as the duet between Dennis Dupree (Alec Baldwin<\/a>), the near-bankrupted owner of the hippest rock club in town, The Bourbon Room, and his \u2018British\u2019 sidekick Lonny (Russell Brand<\/a>). To get to this particular gem of daftness, you have to endure an annoyingly insipid Brand in a far less interesting rocker role than his Get Him To The Greek<\/em> one. In fact, the funniest thing about Lonny is not meant to be: his ever-changing accent from Liverpudlian to Brummie to Cockney, like some multiple personality disorder sufferer.<\/p>\n

Baldwin and\u00a0Paul Giamatti<\/a> who plays devious agent Paul Gill offer the film\u2019s variations of sleaze but are like immensely entertaining, sad old middle-aged men, while a \u2018pinched looking\u2019\u00a0Catherine Zeta-Jones<\/a> gets into her old Chicago<\/em> glad rags and high-kicking routine again will full gusto to play a prim politician\u2019s wife with a hidden secret.<\/p>\n

Star of the whole show is Cruise who adopts another screen-grabbing caricature, like the one in Tropic Thunder<\/em>. Cruise knows how to pull off \u2018weirdo\u2019 in spades, dressed much like a spaced out version of 80s Guns n\u2019 Roses legend Axl Rose with the sulky attitude of guitarist Slash. As conceited as Stacee Jaxx is, Cruise does try to go for the \u2018little boy lost\u2019 to the perils of fame effect so we naturally end up rooting for the rock monster. And boy, what antics: there is quite a raunchy number between him and\u00a0Malin Akerman<\/a> as music journo Constance Sack at one point that might make some parents accompanying minors blush in their presence.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Rock of Ages<\/em> is undeniably outrageous good fun with another standout comedic act from Cruise. If nothing else, those who remember the 80s the first time around will be head banging and toe tapping to the memorable beats while reminiscing about fashion\u2019s biggest period of faux pas items. That\u2019s the glee of the whole big, dopey, hairy, sweaty and loud fiasco.<\/p>\n

4\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

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