Rock of Ages: Rock and Roll Broadway Coming to the Big Stage

Hello again! Brandon here. After my most recent trip to the City of Sin in July, I was able to see the spectacular Rock of Ages show at the Rio. It was fantastic and have been trying to make time and watch the film…which I regret. Anyway, for November we will be tackling some fun music-themed films for movie club. Just thought I should let y’all know. Anyways, enjoy Rock of Ages.

ROCK OF AGES

DIRECTED BY: Adam Shankman

STARRING: Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russel Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Akerman, Mary J. Blige, Alec Baldwin, Tom Cruise

GENRE: Musical Comedy-Drama

YEAR: 2012

COUNTRY: United States

1987. Naive Sherrie Christian has just arrived in Hollywood from Tulsa looking to become a rock star. She is just like Drew Boley was when he first arrived in Hollywood, he, now the Hollywood veteran, who works as a bar back at the Bourbon Club, known as the center of the rock scene in town and the place where many of the biggest acts in rock got their big break. The two meet as Drew helps Sherrie with a situation when she first arrives in town. Despite Dennis Dupree, the Bourbon’s owner/manager, not liking to hire people like Drew or Sherrie – someone who has musical aspirations – as service staff, Drew is able to convince Dennis and his assistant Lonny to hire Sherrie as a server, Drew and Sherrie who have a blossoming mutual attraction.

Dennis and Lonny, who are having financial difficulties, are able to convince rock star Stacee Jaxx, the perpetually stoned front man for the band Arsenal who got his first break performing at the Bourbon, to perform for free at a benefit concert at the club. Rumors are that Stacee is leaving Arsenal after their next gig to go solo, Rolling Stones reporter Constance Sack who wants to get the true story as to the reason. Another problem for the Bourbon is that Mayor Mike Whitmore is taking a tough stance on what he sees as bad societal influences like rock music. His Christian fundamentalist wife Patricia Whitmore is leading the on the ground campaign in this area, she who is determined to shut down the Bourbon. But Patricia is hiding a secret from her past as to the reason for her extreme fervor in getting rid of the Bourbon. As Drew and Sherrie’s romance blossoms, other romances around them blossom as well. But their romance and their musical aspirations are threatened by trying to stay true to their musical visions, changing musical tastes, and by Stacee himself.

I am going to let all of you know now that this review may quickly become a comparison to the stage performance I saw in Vegas…just saying. On a side note, I really wish that I could figure out the name of the performer who portrayed the narrator throughout the performance. He is definitely not the main accredited actor, but I can’t find him anywhere. Whatever, let’s actually move onto the film.

As far as the Rock of Ages film goes, it really doesn’t hold a light to the actual stage performance. While the main ensemble cast actually does a fantastic job and takes a different spin on the characters, theses characters are better portrayed by the actors who love their characters and not just for the paycheck.  In order to really embrace and enjoy Rock of Ages, go see it performed by professionals. That way you can actually experience it rather than just simply watching it.

Oh…did I forget to mention how awesome the soundtrack/score is to Rock of Ages? Everything you would expect out of an 80s movie: Poison, Whitesnake, The Scorpions, etc.

PROS:

• Ensemble cast.
• Epic soundtrack.
• Intriguing story.

CONS:

• Should be seen performed on stage rather than in film form.

SCORE: 9 / 10

If you have any suggestions for films/TV/Games/Music/Anime for me to review, drop me a comment!

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