Rock of Ages (2012) Review

 

Rock of Ages (2012)

And finally, we get our first musical on here, based on the stage musical of the same name.

Rock of Ages follows Sherrie and Drew, who fall in love during the rock scene of the 80s but who’s paths diverge as their lives change, eventually leading them back to where their love began.

Usually, movies based on stage plays are a bit tricky to pull off, as you’re taking something confined to the stage, and building on it, creating new areas, characters, and storylines to enter. But for the most part, they pretty successfully recreated the tone and feel of the musical scene in The Bourban Room, located in Hollywood. We also get a story that feels like a modern spin on Tipper Gore, wife of then Senator Al Gore, who sought to censor rock music, citing it as demonic influences of children in the 80s. It was a subtle nod to the issues at the time, with the main band Arsenal being our fictionalized version of Guns N’ Roses. And of course, having our two up and coming, in-love, musicians at the center of this struggle, ties it all together. The musical itself was fantastic, featuring tons of deep cuts and 80s rock hits, with this movie having the uniqueness of having our actors actually sing, which is a rarity in musicals anymore.

The cast is loaded with talent, featuring Russel Brand, Alec Baldwin, Malin Åkerman, Julianne Hough, and Diego Boneta, but it was Tom Cruise, playing the sex God of rock Stacee Jax, an obvious riff off of Axl Rose, who kills it here. He plays Jax with such a tormented charisma, with him going full method and embodying the character of a rockstar leaving his prime, but still emboldened by the lifestyle. Having him be our tragic hero who has fallen from grace, but redeems himself and finds his own love, makes the story so enjoyable, even if it is a bit over sexual.

Rock of Ages is a sexed up, raunchy, and nostalgic 80s jukebox musical that takes a pretty tame story of saving a bar, mixes in some love and booze, and creates a fun and unique look at such an influential period for rock. It’s not groundbreaking, but it is a flashy and cheesy trip back to the height of hair metal, which is what the 80s were all about!

6.7/10