Rock of Ages is a very uplifting feel good musical comedy that tells the tale of rock, however if you’ve been to musicals before with the same ”theme” or ”plot”, you will find some very familiar tropes alongside its own clichés, but for me as a movie the execution is more important and I had a fun time watching this.
Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough) is a young girl dreaming of becoming a singer, sounds familiar? Yes, even the movie decides to make fun of this trope, but however still decide to continue with it, that’s really what I want to point out about this movie, it’s the same “Rock will never die!” musical plot you have, included with an unnecessary (not to mention bland) love plot between the two protagonists. Sherrie and Drew (Diego Boneta) a Bar assistant who dreams of becoming a rock & roll star, but attempts to become a member of a rapping boy band, since the “evil” corporations declare rock dead.
Now, what really steals the show is Tom Cruise’s performance as the fictional rock & roll legend Stacee Jaxx. Stacee Jaxx is out of control, constantly drunk, childish, impulsive and just simply out of control, hell he even sings towards Malin Åkerman’s lil’ booty, this movie goes out of control fun with Tom Cruise, and his performance, the movie’s setting & design, alongside the soundtrack is the true highlight of the movie.
The movie of course doesn’t solely rest on Cruise’s shoulders, as other actors like Catherine Zeta-Jones & Bryan Cranston play the anti-rock politician villains, because after all, movies truly need some antagonists to let the rock shine? Paul Giamatti is also in this movie, playing Paul Gill the agent of Stacee Jaxx, who also just sees musicians as mere pawns for his evil corporation, desires to make filthy money. As you can see, there isn’t any real reason to take these forms of stories seriously as they fall down to the most simplistic character types of “rock will never die” arch types.
So without any further comments I’d like to make, check the soundtrack listing or go with an open mind, if you enjoy rock in all of its forms, I’d say you can be pleased by this and have a good time with your friends. I’d also like to give it cheers up for having two unknown actors playing the biggest leads, while having Cruise as a supporting character.
