Rock of Ages (2012)

  I didn't get to see this movie when it was in theaters, even though I had intended to do so.  I like Adam Shankman, despite his role in giving the world Channing Tatum via Step Up.  He makes things fun, even Adam Sandler in Bedtime Stories, which is no mean feat.  

Critically, this movie bombed.  Possibly critics don't understand fun.  My only two complaints with the movie were 1) there wasn't a lot of character development.  People just kind of came on and sang songs.  2)  The songs were so recognizable that Christy and Rob wouldn't (couldn't?) stop singing along, which made it difficult to listen to the actual movie.

Star-dazzled Sherrie (Julianne Hough) steps off the bus in L.A. from Oklahoma and almost immediately gets mugged.  A barback with dreams of rock-godhood from the legendary Bourbon club, Drew (Diego Boneta), feels bad for her so he tries to get her a job with the manager, Dennis Dupree (Alec Baldwin).  Dennis sizes her up within a minute but agrees to hire her anyway, seeing as he has bigger problems on his mind.  Like the fact that his bar is the subject of a witch-hunt by the incumbent mayor (Bryan Cranston) and his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) for moral turpitude and he owes back taxes that may see him shut down.  There is one man who can change the Bourbon's fortunes single-handedly, however:  Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise), a permanently-wasted rocker about to go solo because his band is tired of his bullshit.  His oleaginous manager (Paul Giamatti) is doing everything he can to keep his cash cow happy without letting him go down in flames. 

When the opening band goes into rehab the night of Stacee's last show, Dennis allows Drew's band, Wolfgang Von Colt, to open.  The manager immediately sees dollar signs.  After a completely predictable misunderstanding, Drew breaks up with Sherrie and signs on with Stacee's manager.  Sherrie ends up stripping at Justice Charlier's (Mary J. Blige, and I seriously had to look up her character's name because I didn't remember them ever using it in the film) club and Paul, the manager, convinces Drew that Rock is over and boy bands are the new thing.  Things reach their pinnacle when Drew's new band, The Z Guyeezz (double the E, double the Z, double the flava!), are booked at The Bourbon as the opening act for Stacee's new solo career...which is news to Stacee, who was passed out at the Chateau Marmont still reeling from an article in Rolling Stone savaging his sell-out ways.

Honestly, the story is basically just an excuse for one set-piece after another and should have nothing to do with your enjoyment of the film.  It's bright, candy-colored Classic Rock and choreography.  That's what your money's for.  I will say, based on the trailers, I did not expect Tom Cruise to have as big a part as he did.  I expected him to do maybe two songs, but he's in damn near every scene.  It's not necessarily a bad thing but it does take away from the main story. 

Overall, a fun Broadway-show-turned-movie.