Rock Of Ages
I went to the movies today with my daughter and her friends, where they were also meeting two boys. My instructions were to pretend I didn't even know her! I think that failed when she left me at the candy bar with more food than I could handle, but after parting with a handful of Twisties (a savoury snack food) I disappeared into the woodwork.
Anyhow... What an amazing ride! I was never a fan of the Glam Rock movement, but I was singing along (quietly) with the cast a lot of the time. I've never seen the stage production, but the storyline and song linkage worked very well, so I'd say the translation to screen was rather successful. ETA: Subplots have been simplified and changed it seems to increase the comedy factor, and the story "cleaned up" for a more PG-13 rating. Best to take it as a film-musical loosely based on the stage production, I think.
Standout moment was "I can't fight this feeling" telling the tale of a long suppressed affection. It was a surprise, and so totally hilarious I was doubled over with tears streaming down my face. Awesome.
I felt this was a far better effort at casting than Mamma Mia, where voices were poor and the music hence became secondary, something that should never happen in a musical IMO. This was all rock, all the time, and recorded well all round. The surprise was Tom Cruise's singing voice... Only heard once with individual clarity, and much higher and smoother than I imagined. Who knew?!
If you have 2.5 hrs to spare, love music and would like a little fun escape from the hustle and bustle of life, then make your way to the cinema for a Glam Rock 80's romp that will leave you with a smile on your face.