Get ready to get rockin’ with Rock of Ages, a blowout musical spectacular featuring outstanding performances by actors that take the music world by storm. It’s an extravaganza of music, dreams and life’s challenges all with the backdrop of the 1980s fight for rock n’ roll survival. I am still reeling from the soundtrack, acting and presentation of the stage play brought to life on the big screen.
The film centers on Sherrie (Julianne Hough) who comes to Los Angeles during the 1980’s to jump-start her career as a singer. Coming from a small town the world of entertainment is overwhelming to her. Without wages she looks for a job in any place that will take her. Purely by accident she runs into Drew (Diego Boneta) a local who works for the Burbon Room a rock n’ roll bar noted for establishing the career of the now famous Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise).
Begging for him to help her get a job at Burbon, he sticks his neck out by asking his rigid boss Dennis Dupree (Alec Baldwin) to put her on as a waitress and he does. When Drew, a budding rock artist gets a chance to open for Stacee Jaxx who has come to his starting place to do one last show with his band, things start looking up for the young man and his now sweetheart Sherrie.
The story’s not new by any stretch of the imagination with the ‘girl goes to big city to make good, meets young man and along the way they have problems which are resolved in the end’ plot. That’s the only predictability here, and it’s not why you come to see the film in the first place. The rock n’ roll music, performances by some amazing vocalists singing 32 numbers that former performers Journey, Poison, Def Leopard, Scorpions, Joan Jett, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, and others have done on stage is the main reason. It’s an event for rockers and children of the 80’s with Tom Cruise, Julianne Hough (Burlesque), Diego Boneta, Russell Brand (Get Him to the Greek), Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Mary J. Blige doing the singing.
Taking the high profile actors and turning them into rock stage quality was the job of director Adam Shankman (Hairspray) and his proof of ability shows hearty and heavy on the big screen. He puts it all together like a concert with a story, giving his audience the look and feel of being up front at one of the all time great music fests. Music driven films like Burlesque, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Footloose, Fame, Dreamgirls, although good, do not overshadow Rock of Ages and that’s a tribute to Shankman’s great work.
In Rock of Ages it’s all about the music and there’s plenty of great rock to fill a couple of albums. Except for a handful of the songs the actors in their roles perform them all. We can fight over the best songs in the film, but for me they are all great, performed like they were written for the actors, and the choreography’s as good as a concert tour by the best 80’s artists who originally performed them on stage.
It’s also hard to pick out the best acting, but my money’s on Tom Cruise. His moves, mannerisms, voice talent, and screen presence top everyone in the cast. Not counting Mary Jo Blige (she’s an awesome career singer and shows her stuff), the rest of the actors come in second, performing some kick-butt rock, ballads and R&B that conjures up memories of the past and tells the story with energy using their fine talent.
Rock of Ages has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sexual content, suggestive dancing, some heavy drinking, and language.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A musical rock show that stands tall above many. [rating=6]
Additional Film Information:
- Cast: Tom Cruise, Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mary J. Blige, Russell Brand, Malin Akerman and Alec Baldwin
- Directed by: Adam Shankman
- MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, suggestive dancing, some heavy drinking, and language
- Genre: Musical
- Running Time: 2 hrs 3 min
- Opening Date: June 15, 2012
- Distributed by: Warner Bros.
The following songs from Rock of Ages are produced by
ADAM ANDERS and PEER ASTROM:
“Paradise City”
Written by Steven Adler, Saul Hudson, Duff Rose McKagan, W. Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin
Performed by Tom Cruise
“Sister Christian”
Written by Kelly Keagy
Performed by Julianne Hough
“Just Like Paradise”
Written by David Lee Roth and Brett Tuggle
Performed by Julianne Hough
“Nothin’ But A Good Time”
Written by Bobby Dall, C.C. Deville, Bret Michaels and Rikki Rockett
Performed by Diego Boneta, Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin
“I Remember You”
Written by David Michael Sabo and Rachel Bolan Southworth
Performed by Skid Row
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. by arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
“Jukebox Hero”
Written by Michael L. Jones and Louis Grammatico
Performed by Diego Boneta and Julianne Hough
“I Love Rock ‘n Roll”
Written by Jake Hooker and Alan Merrill
Performed by Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand
“Hit Me With Your Best Shot”
Written by Eddie Schwartz
Performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones
“Oh Sherrie”
Written by Bill Cuomo, Randy Goodrum, Craig Krampf and Steve Perry
“Waiting For A Girl Like You”
Written by Michael L. Jones and Louis Grammatico
Performed by Diego Boneta and Julianne Hough
“Don’t Stop Believin’ (Acoustic)”
Written by Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon and Steve Perry
Performed by Diego Boneta
“Talk Dirty To Me”
Written by Bobby Dall, C.C. Deville, Bret Michaels and Rikki Rockett
Performed by Poison
Courtesy of Capitol Records under License from EMI Film & Television Music
“More Than Words”
Written by Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt
Performed by Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta
“Heaven”
Written by Jani Lane
Performed by Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta
“Rock Of Ages”
Written by Joseph Elliot, Peter Willis, Richard Allen, Richard Savage, Robert Lange and Stephen Clark
Performed by Def Leppard
Courtesy of Universal International Music, B.V. under License from Universal Music
Enterprises
“Wanted Dead Or Alive”
Written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora
Performed by Tom Cruise and Julianne Hough
“I Want To Know What Love Is”
Written by Michael L. Jones
Performed by Tom Cruise and Malin Akerman
“I Wanna Rock”
Written by Dee Snider
Performed by Diego Boneta
“Pour Some Sugar On Me”
Written by Joseph Elliot, Philip Collen, Richard Allen, Richard Savage, Robert Lange and Stephen Clark
Performed by Tom Cruise
“Harden My Heart”
Written by Marvin Ross
Performed by Julianne Hough and Mary J. Blige
“Bringin’ On The Heartbreak”
Written by Joseph Elliot, Peter Willis, Richard Allen, Richard Savage and Stephen Clark
Performed by Def Leppard
Courtesy of Universal International Music, B.V. under License from Universal Music Enterprises
“Shadows Of The Night”
Written by D.L. Byron
Performed by Mary J. Blige and Julianne Hough
“Here I Go Again”
Written by David Coverdale and Bernie Marsden
Performed by Diego Boneta, Julianne Hough, Mary J. Blige, Paul Giamatti and Tom Cruise
“Can’t Fight This Feeling”
Written by Kevin Cronin
Performed by Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin
“Any Way You Want It”
Written by Steve Perry and Neal Schon
Performed by Mary J. Blige, Constantine Maroulis, Paul Giamatti, Diego Boneta and Julianne Hough
“Undercover Love”
Written by Adam Anders, Peer Astrom and Savan Kotecha
Performed by Diego Boneta
“Every Rose Has Its Thorn”
Written by Bobby Dall, C.C. Deville, Bret Michaels and Rikki Rockett
Performed by Diego Boneta, Julianne Hough, Tom Cruise and Mary J. Blige
“We Built This City”
Written by Bernie Taupin, Dennis Lambert, Martin Page and Peter Wolf
Performed by Russell Brand
“We’re Not Gonna Take It”
Written by Dee Snider
Performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones
“No One Like You”
Written by Rudolf Schenker, Klaus Meine and Herman Rarebell
Performed by Scorpions
Courtesty of The Island Def Jam Music Group under License from Universal Music Enterprises
“Don’t Stop Believin’”
Written by Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon and Steve Perry
Performed by Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Mary J. Blige
“Cum On Feel The Noize”
Written by James Lea and Neville Holder
Performed by Quiet Riot
Courtesy of Pasha/CBS Records by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing
“Rock You Like A Hurricane”
Written by Rudolf Schenker, Klaus Meine, and Herman Rarebell
Performed by Tom Cruise and Julianne Hough
Mary J. Blige appears courtesy of Interscope Records,
a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Julianne Hough appears courtesy of Mercury Records,
a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Soundtrack Album on WATERTOWER MUSIC
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
