Review: 'Rock of Ages' is a fruity lip-synch fest

Film: Rock of Ages
Cast: Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bryan Cranston, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta
Director: Adam Shankman
Rating: **

Rock of Ages resurrects the radio staples, taking viewers back witness the twilight years of Rock ‘n Roll in Los Angeles in the 1980s. The film follows wannabe music stars Sherrie Christian (Hough) and Drew Boley (Boneta), both hailing from small towns and fall in and out of love in a famous nightclub ‘The Bourbon Room’. Run by Dennis Dupree (a grunged-out Baldwin with long hair) and his aide Lonny (the eternally annoying Brand), the establishment faces financial woes. It is also the victim of a malicious political campaign led by Mayor Mike Whitmore (Cranston) and his wife Patricia (Zeta Jones) who stirs up moral panic. Only one person can save The Bourbon Room is Drew’s idol, living legend, superstar, and also, unfortunately, the ‘most unreliable man in the music industry’ Stacey Jaxx (Cruise). But the swoon-inducing star – out of hundreds of sweaty, filthy rockers -seems a special target for Patricia. Watch the film if you want to find out why..

There is little to discuss about the uninspiring story. But one thing the film gets right is the depiction of the days of when guitars still ruled, churning out ballads that set lighters waving and foot-stomping, fist-pounding anthems.

The swaggering, leatherclad Tom Cruise proves that he is still in form with his performance as narcissistic, burnt-out rocker who is completely divorced from reality and the fact that his sleazy managed (well-played by Paul Giamatti) has got him on a leash.  Zeta-Jones puts up a good performance, her bloodthirsty character’s two-dimensional nature notwithstanding. Boneta and Hough exude the appropriate amount of charm but the chemistry between Baldwin and Brand’s character makes for a more entertaining watch.

Irrespective of the impressive cast, the only real superstar in the film is the music. The songs by Twisted Sister, Whitesnake, Night Ranger, Journey among other 80s giants feature in the film and are passed off as original creations of its characters. No matter how badly rendered (Hough’s country pop vocals are saccharine and ill-suited for ballads), these songs comes to the rescue of insipid characters and the unoriginal story and when the weak writing evokes a suitable-enough mood.

Should you watch it? If you are a fan of thrashy musicals, sure why not, you will encounter this at some point or the other, plus this one would possibly help you branch out in terms of your taste in music.

The hair metal fans would do well to stick to their trusty playlists. For them, watching Penelope Spheeris’s riveting documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years would be more rewarding and insightful than this fruity lip-synch fest.