By Kate Rodger
Rock of Ages doesn't take too much explaining. it's a musical, an ode to rock n roll, an ode to the 80s, and an ode to a shirtless Tom Cruise.
The story itself is largely irrelevant and you've seen it done before a million times and far better. Here, it's just all about the rock and the roll.
To be fair I have a rather irrational response to musicals on screen, I either love them - like Chicago - or hate 'em like Rock of Ages.
The players themselves are not at fault nor is the music, which will have many humming along.
It's just the entire production which takes itself too seriously while at the same time hamming it up as if for the stage it was born to. It just doesn’t work.
The movie descends into an unholy embarrassing cringe-worthy mess was just praying would end.
One star, for the monkey.
Rock of Ages
:: Director: Adam Shankman
:: Starring: Tom Cruise, Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Bryan Cranston, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Malin Akerman, Will Forte, Kevin Nash, Mary J. Blige
:: Running Time: 123 mins
:: Rating: M - contains offensive language & sexual references
:: Release Date: June 16, 2012
:: Trailer: Watch here
