“Rock of Ages”, well, ROCKS.
I just saw an advanced screening of the movie and both my sister and I knew that it was going to be either outstanding or a total disaster; it was not going to fall in between the extremes. Without giving any spoilers, here are my thoughts:
We have seen the musical on stage (one time for me, multiple times for her) and knew ahead of time that the movie, directed by Adam Shankman (who also directed 2007’s “Hairspray”), was meant to be campy and fun. It did not disappoint. It was SO campy (over the top but hilarious) and the laughs kept coming.
Tom Cruise, of whom I’m no superfan (but I do enjoy him in certain roles), killed it. The woman next to me said to her daughter before the movie started, “I think Tom is going to be awesome in this role because he plays ‘crazy’ really well.” Her daughter replied, “He IS crazy.” That about sums it up but I can tell you that I forgot he was Tom Cruise after his first scene, that’s how much he embraced the role of Stacee Jaxx. AMAZING.
Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand were scene-stealers and did a fantastic duet that had the audience in stitches, and Catherine Zeta-Jones was born to play her role, that of the mayor’s wife who is bent on cleaning up the Strip in Los Angeles.
The end of the movie was different in some important ways from the stage musical, and I liked the movie ending better.
I would see it again right now if I could! Anyone wanna go?
