Rock of Ages is
a train wreck--an incredibly cheesy, super corny and undeniably
entertaining train wreck. What else would you expect from director Adam
Shankman?! In a movie that pulls the greatest tunes from Journey, Def
Leppard, Twisted Sister, Foreigner, Joan Jett, Poison, Bon Jovi and
Night Ranger and proceeds to whirl them around an ensemble cast of
odd-balls, you won't get an Oscar nominee. What you do get is a hot
damn mess.
Centered around a love story between Julianne Hough and some dude, it's the musicality of the film that's worth a watch... and the corny delivery from the likes of Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, and Tom Cruise. I was a little worried when Julianne Hough (of Dancing with the Stars fame) tries to belt Sister Christian, but if you embrace the film for it's hedonistic ways and satirical smarts--you are guaranteed a good time.
Mad props to Tom Cruise who plays Stacee Jaxx (part Brett Michaels, part Buddhist monk) with conviction. Staring into the blue soulless eyes, you can feel the pain of Cruise/Jaxx. This viewer cringed (and secretly wondered) if Cruise was crying out for help when as Jaxx, Cruise answers the Rolling Stone reporter 'I know me better than anyone... because I live in here... and nobody else can.'
Cringe-worthy moments include just about every scene with Julianne Hough and the Baldwin/Brand rendition of 'I Can't Fight this Feeling Anymore'. Mary J. Blige adds class. Constantine Maroulis detracts. Brian Cranston, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Paul Giamatti are well...so brave, so awesome.
As I see it, Rock of Ages is ballsy, walking the line between the glorious excess of rock and roll and nut shots to pop-culture as we've come to know it. The film revels it it's self awareness and for that reason--much like its many predecessors--Hairspray, Saturday Night Fever, Spinal Tap, Grease--Rock of Ages is a glorious success.
Centered around a love story between Julianne Hough and some dude, it's the musicality of the film that's worth a watch... and the corny delivery from the likes of Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, and Tom Cruise. I was a little worried when Julianne Hough (of Dancing with the Stars fame) tries to belt Sister Christian, but if you embrace the film for it's hedonistic ways and satirical smarts--you are guaranteed a good time.
Mad props to Tom Cruise who plays Stacee Jaxx (part Brett Michaels, part Buddhist monk) with conviction. Staring into the blue soulless eyes, you can feel the pain of Cruise/Jaxx. This viewer cringed (and secretly wondered) if Cruise was crying out for help when as Jaxx, Cruise answers the Rolling Stone reporter 'I know me better than anyone... because I live in here... and nobody else can.'
Cringe-worthy moments include just about every scene with Julianne Hough and the Baldwin/Brand rendition of 'I Can't Fight this Feeling Anymore'. Mary J. Blige adds class. Constantine Maroulis detracts. Brian Cranston, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Paul Giamatti are well...so brave, so awesome.
As I see it, Rock of Ages is ballsy, walking the line between the glorious excess of rock and roll and nut shots to pop-culture as we've come to know it. The film revels it it's self awareness and for that reason--much like its many predecessors--Hairspray, Saturday Night Fever, Spinal Tap, Grease--Rock of Ages is a glorious success.
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