Rock of Ages

I WANNA ROCK! [insert awesome rock instrumental here] ah the Rock Of Ages, a film adaptation of the rock-American jukebox musical with the same name, it has great 80’s rock, an over the top cheesy plot, fabulous hair, sexy costumes, dramatic head banging and most of all sex. All of these things tied up with a pretty bow on top that make an irresistible musical that many critics hate but would have to watch again and again. The film was directed by Adam Shankman, and stars Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta leading an ensemble cast that include Tom Cruise, Mary J. Blige, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston and Malin Åkerman. Another one of my favorite musicals, I love everything about it, from the music to the crazy plot and everything in between. Part of the reeling in factor would most definitely be the music. Who doesn’t love great 80’s rock musical? Am I right, ladies and gents?

The film is also very different from the stage production. Some of the characters were removed (Regina, Franz and Hertz), and new ones were added, Constance and Patricia. Of course, the plot was slightly changed to fit the new characters. Stacee and Sherrie do not have sex and and Patricia is the one that tries to get the Bourbon Room shut down. In the stage production, Sherrie is from Paola Kansas, not Oklahoma.

The film revolves around Sherrie (Hough), a naive girl from Oklahoma, who has just arrived in Los Angeles with dreams of becoming a singer; and Drew (Boneta), a barback for the Bourbon Room, who dreams of being a rockstar. Sherrie and Drew meet when he tries to help her catch the guy who stole her suitcase outside of his workplace. Upon hearing of her situation, Drew gets her a job at the Bourbon. The owner of the club, Dennis (Baldwin) and his assistant, Lonny (Brand), are trying to raise enough money to keep the club running. They decide to book Stacee Jaxx (Cruise), a rockstar preparing for his las gig with his band, Arsenal, in the hope they raise enough money to pay off their debt. In protest of this concert, Patricia Whitmore (Zeta-Jones), organizes a protest in front of The Bourbon Room. Drew and Sherrie grow closer with each other, and Drew confesses he wrote a song for her. On the opening night of the show, Drew learns that the opening act has cancelled, Sherrie convinces Drew to ask Dennis if him and his band, Wolfgang Von Cult, could replace the opener.

Meanwhile, Paul Gill (Giamatti), Stacee Jaxx’s manager, schedules an interview for Stacee with Constance Sack (Åkerman), a reporter for Rolling Stone. After the interview, Constacne lashes out at him, saying he was once a great musician and is becoming a has-been. Stacee commands everyone out of the dressing room so they can discuss the rest in private, which ends in sex. Before Drew goes on stage, he sees Stacee and Sherrie together, and thinks they had sex. After performing, Drew drunkenly insults Sherrie and she quits. Paul offers a contract deal to Drew, he goes to Dennis and Lonny and informs them of him and Sherrie quitting and then accepts Paul’s deal. A week or so later, Sherrie and Drew see each other, Sherrie informs him that she did not have sex with Stacee and that she is now a stripper. Drew admits he is a part of a boy band called Z Guyeezz, and that he hates it. Stacee, realizing he has feelings for Constance and attempts to find her. He calls Rolling Stone and they inform him she is doing a report on him doing a gig at the Bourbon. Not knowing he had a gig there he rushes to the Bourbon and reunites with Constance. Drew’s boy band goes on but the crowd rejects them; he then reconciles with Sherrie and he dismisses Paul. Drew reunites with his old band and plays the song he wrote for Sherrie. Stacee hears the song and is moved by it. Eight months later, Drew, Sherrie and Stacee all perform the song Drew wrote.

Some of the songs that were in the original production were either removed, shortened or moved around to fit the screen. Most of the songs that are in the film version were originally mash-ups in the stage production that had their mash-up partner either removed or put somewhere else. A few of the songs included in the film are “Paradise City”, “I Want to Know What Love Is”, “I Wanna Rock”, “Here I Go Again”, “Any Way You Want It”, “We Built This City/We’re Not Gonna Take It”, etc. They had more of Journey in the movie than any of the other bands which include Poison, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, David Lee Roth, Scorpions and others. A couple of my favorite songs/scenes would have to be “I Want To Know What Love Is”, it is so awkwardly funny and sexy at the same time. Who knew Tom Cruise could sing AND be sexy at the same time?

Cruise sings “Pour Some Sugar On Me” and I cannot believe my ears. He actually has some nice pipes. This is one of my favorite songs and I am really surprised that I honestly enjoy it. Maybe you will too:

Another great scene would be “We Built This City”/”We’re Not Gonna Take It”, Russell Brands voice is definitely why I listen to it. Amazingly enough, even he can sing plus he is British. What girl wouldn’t swoon for that voice? Watch it here:

I would like to show you more videos but I think you should experience watching it on your own. But, I will leave you with this little number by Journey called “Any Way You Want It” performed by Justice (Blige), Paul, Drew, Sherrie and the Record Executive:

Click on the posters for more!