Rock of Ages

Starring:  Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Akerman, Tom Cruise
Year:  2012
Running Time: 123 minutes

I'm not a huge fan of 80s rock (and definitely not a fan of 80s heavy metal) but a jukebox musical built around 80s rock and power ballads on the other hand...I saw Rock of Ages on Broadway when friends were visiting NYC and it was such a fun show so I was looking forward to the film adaptation, released in 2012.  I've watched several musicals over the past couple of months and I recently found myself in the (rare) mood for some classic 80s rock.  While the plot is pretty weak and loosely tied together by the music, the film was as entertaining and energetic as I remembered with top performances by the leads.

The film is set in 1987.  We see Sherrie (Julianne Hough), a naïve, blonde "small town girl" from Oklahoma, traveling to Los Angeles on a Greyhound bus with a suitcase of vinyl and dreams of becoming a singer.  Soon after arriving in LA, her suitcase is stolen and cute Samaritan, barback and love interest, Drew (Diego Boneta), comes to her rescue and gets her a job as a waitress at the famous Bourbon Room.  However, the club is in tax debt ("taxes are so un-rock 'n roll") and the owner, Dennis (Alec Baldwin), and his right-hand man, Lonny (Russell Brand) are trying to keep it open.  As such, they have booked self-indulgent rock god Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) and his band, Arsenal, to perform at the club.

In the meantime, Patricia Whitmore (Catherine Zeta-Jones) - a template for every bland and repressed Republican woman - is organizing a protest against the "disease" of rock music in an attempt to get the club shut down for good.  She is married to the mayor of LA, who has vowed to "clean up the city" while having an affair with one of his aides.  Later we discover the true reason for her aversion to rock 'n roll.  

Stacee's final performance with Arsenal (before embarking on a solo career) goes ahead as planned.  After the opening act falls through, Sherrie convinces Dennis to let Drew and his band open.  However, the evening has unexpected consequences that set each of the main characters on different paths.

The film is slightly too long in my opinion but is redeemed by its nostalgic soundtrack featuring songs from Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Journey, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, REO Speedwagon and Foreigner -  and it is hard to resist singing along.  Here are my favourite music numbers from the film:

Jukebox Hero / I Love Rock 'n Roll: Performed by Drew and Sherrie while they are browsing at Tower Records as well as Dennis and Lonny in the club's office (using a hairbrush as a microphone!)

Hit Me With Your Best Shot:  Patricia and the church ladies are arranging their protest, while her husband is getting spanked by his mistress.

Don't Stop Believin': Drew serenades Sherrie at the Hollywood sign with a snippet of a song he's been working on.  Later in the film, the full song is performed by Sherrie and Drew on stage at the Bourbon club and then by Stacee on tour.

Wanted Dead Or Alive:  Stacee sings this song to explain to a Rolling Stone reporter what it's like to be him.

I Want To Know What Love Is:  Stacee and the reporter get intimate ahead of the show.

Pour Some Sugar On Me:  Stacee performs this classic on stage (aside: Tom Cruise nails it)

Can't Fight This Feeling:  Dennis and Lonny finally admit their feelings for each other in a scene that is both comical and touching.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn:  The characters contemplate the direction their lives have taken.

We Built This City / We're Not Gonna Take It:  The opposing factions face off outside the club.