It is the year of deceptively good trailers with lack of substance underneath. For some reason I have been wrongly excited for a number of movies this year due to amazing previews. Who ever is directing these trailers should start crafting the movies too!
Rock of Ages is similar in vain to Adam Shankman's previous effort, the remake of John Water's Hairspray. It's off kilter and intentionally silly - too silly for me. I happen to love musicals but would argue that what makes them great is not just superb musical numbers and wonderful choreographed sequences but the parts that contain none of that. There are hardly any of those parts in Rock of Ages so it handicaps the viewer in some way and limits possible feelings you may have conjured for the characters. Why is it that all the old classical musicals from The Band Wagon to The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady to Grease and Footloose are so much better? They have a great balance between songs and dialogue among many other nuances. I'm all for taking stabs at reinventing interesting and fun musicals but learn from the grand ole successes my dear young padawan.
That being said, I enjoyed Tom Cruise in the film. He maybe overacted his part but I am very keen on self deprecating humor, not to mention drug crazed, ego obsessed rock gods and this he played out quite well. I work in the music industry and so it's always interesting to see how films portray musician venues relationship. The stereotypes are drawn out to their absurd conclusion but nonetheless enjoyable to watch. Some of the acting was good and some not, as well as some of the dance numbers - a bit hit or miss. Overall, a good late night puff puff pass movie with friends but nowhere near the likes of The Rocky Horror Picture Show or the like.
Recommended Viewing: The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Little Shop Of Horrors (1986)
Bob Scale: Objective: 5.7 - Subjective: 6.5
MetaCritic: 48
Rotten Tomatoes: 42
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