Film Review: Rock Of Ages

Rating: 7/10

Overview:

A small town girl Sherrie (Julianne Hough) and a city boy Drew (Diego Boneta) meet on Sunset Strip while in LA pursuing their Hollywood dreams.
Set in the 80s, the focus is on Sherrie who has moved to Hollywood from her small Midwestern hometown. On her first day in Hollywood her suitcase full of rock records is stolen, and she meets Drew, an aspiring singer currently working at the Bourbon Rooms, when he tries to help her. Drew offers her a job and she's in luck as the legendary rock star Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) is performing at this bar. It all seems perfect until Drew and Sherrie have a big misunderstanding.

Director:
Adam Shankman (Hairspray, A Walk To Remember)

Cast:
Julianne Hough
Diego Boneta
Tom Cruise
Malin Akerman
Alec Baldwin
Russell Brand
Paul Giamatti
Mary J. Bilge
Catherine Zeta-Jones

Pros:
Having never seen the theatre production, I went to the cinema with no expectations and no other versions in mind to compare it to.
The quality cast was by far the best aspect of this film, with the cast performing classic rock anthems such as Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing' and Whitesnake's 'Here I Go Again'.



Tom Cruise surprisingly stole the show as Stacee Jaxx, a rock star obsessed with sex, alcohol and rock and roll... nothing unusual for such a character, but Cruise began training his voice for the role as soon as he was cast, and it definitely payed off as he played the part superbly.
Some great Cruise scenes are whilst Jaxx is being interviewed at the Bourbon Rooms by Rolling Stone's reporter Constance Sack played by Malin Akerman. The scenes with these two characters will make you laugh and also cringe a bit, but well, doesn't every musical have to have a certain amount of cheesiness to it. That's what makes them so enjoyable!

Cons:
The only criticism I can give this film (as a big fan of cheesy musicals!), is the slightly awkward acting by both Julianne Hough (trained dancer and singer - Footlose, Dancing with the Stars) and Diego Boneta (singer, Latin Grammy Award nominee). They are not trained actors, so being surrounded by Hollywood's finest on their debut, their lack of experience is more apparent. However, I can't fault the singing, because both Hough and Boneta were amazing!


If you enjoyed musicals such as Hairspray and Burlesque, then Rock of Ages is a must film for you!