Rock of Ages
A routine plot and paper-thin characters mean your enjoyment of this musical depends largely on how much you like popular 80s rock. The majority of the sequences are entertainingly inventive, incorporating song elements in a cinematic way – so fear not for the trap a lot of stage adaptations fall into. By contrast, some songs are nothing more than a series of glamour shots, which is problematic, not to mention awkward, since the film elsewhere satirises the rock star persona (a decent Tom Cruise) and its relationship to the media, fans (in pretty misogynistic fashion) and The Man, leaving an unpleasant taste. The film is meant to be pastiche as well as celebration. The latter rings hollow.
For the most part, though, the film is bouncy and energetic, with a lead duo that matches an array of stars in prettiness and dazzle (Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Akerman, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti and Bryan Cranston feature). You’ll wish the third act didn’t spend quite so long going through the motions (as a witty line went, it goes on and on and on…), but overall the flick is probably best described as a harmless way to spend a couple of hours.
I FUCKING LOVE 80S ROCK!!! AND I LOVE TOM CRUISE!!!!
The trailer made me want to stab myself repeatedly in the face with the closest blunt object. I’m guessing it’s not for me.
I saw the musical on broadway and your assessment is spot on. Though the staging and broadway nature probably worked more in its favor, because it was an absolute blast. But I assume it doesn’t translate as well on screen.
I’m with stabby chest trailer verdict
Not that I can compare the two, I think it works well as a film. Certainly I enjoyed it, and I’ve never been a massive fan of the songs. There’s lots of cutting and moving between locations that is obviously a lot harder to do on stage, and this is employed to neat effect. e.g. when the male lead is introduced he’s singing a song outside, and then he goes inside to the backstage area, where others join in. The timing of the vocal parts’ introduction matches the song, so that’s neat. Lots of little things like that. Apart from the “glamour shots” I referred to, it’s never flat but never quite electric.
You just saw this because Rashida Jones.
Oh wait, that’s Catherine Beta Jones. …
If this movie had Rashida Jones, it would’ve been a masterpiece. Any movie with Rashida Jones is a masterpiece.