Saw it last night with The Wife. I hate to sound like a big-time film critic, but it was pretty fun. The third act dragged (the descent to rock bottom by the cute couple after the misunderstanding took too damn long) and there were not enough boobies even when boobies were thematically and artistically required, but all in all it was fun.
And I have to add: Tom Cruise absolutely nailed it.
No, you didn’t want Johnny Depp in there. Yeah, he could have sold it, but the whole point is that the character is supposed to be taking himself sort of seriously. Depp’s roles have nearly always been quasi-ironic, and that wouldn’t have worked here.
Cruise was perfect; without him, the film would have been just…no. No, no no.
I swear, half the fun of watching Cruise do roles like this is because he DOES have a semi-reputation as being all serious and Christian Scientist and whatever else you want to throw in there. Seeing him in this makes you…well, makes ME, actually like him a lot more.
I saw the trailer for this while at the theater with a group of friends. When the trailer ended, one of my friends (who knows of my love for musicals) leaned over and said “So, are you planning to see THIS musical?” I shook my head.
I won’t say that I definitely won’t, if it comes to the cheap theater near my house I might catch a weekend matinee just out of curiosity, but it’s not high on my list of things to catch this summer.
That said, I don’t know that the target audience really is middle aged hair metal fans as some upthread have assumed. I would think that it’s more likely the filmmakers are hoping that younger people who are interested in '80s rock and fashions – if only for the humor value – will come to see it. I’d assume that many of these songs are already familiar to teens and 20-somethings from their use in other movies, TV shows (Glee has featured a fair number of '80s songs), and commercials.
Well, if the target audience was young Glee and American Idol fans, um…I’m not an American Idol fan, only seen it once, accidentally…seen Glee a few times, it’s ok…but any episode of Glee outdoes this whole movie. Seriously. I mean, really, really…seriously.
If Cruise had taken this performance and shown up on Glee as a temp instructor or something, it would have been great. Otherwise, the rest of the film is hanging on Cruise’s moments, and not much of anything else.
And I like Russell Brandt, a lot, but even in the film itself it seemed almost pitiful, his trying-so-hard–to-lighten-things-up when it’s just not gonna happen. >.<
Still looking forward to the cut-down version. 
Also…can’t remember details off the top of my head, but there WERE a few anachronismic phrases used, which kind of jarred, especially considering the detail that one DID notice and appreciate throughout the movie.
Also, the whole…boy band thing…someone has to explain this to me, as I was never into any of them at all, just kinda whooshed over my head. Think I was into Alice n Chains stuff around that time, but…
Can anyone explain to me whether people took boy bands seriously at the time, or was it always a joke? The movie makes jokes about it, but if it was enough to make money from at the time, the jokes also seem very anachronistic. I know, i know, it paralled the guy and gal stories…selling out, in whatever way…but it just seemed really jokey and forced.
Also…most of the show, I was wondering if yeah, it would all go over much better on stage. I do suspect that’s a lot of the problem.
The reviews I’ve seen (Entertainment Weekly and Hollywood Reporter) were both pretty scathing.
Poor Adam Shankman.
I wasn’t sorry I saw it, though it’s not something I would choose to see again. Cheesy, absolutely, but kinda in a good way. And Cruise was perfect for the part.
In fact, a lot of the supporting cast was great - Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Tom Cruise, Paul Giamatti, Malin Akerman and Mary J. Blidge were all brimming with personality compared with the leads, who were bland enough to star on the Disney channel. A few of the musical numbers were fun, although, if you’re forgiving of American Idol style, you’re more likely to enjoy yourself.
Considered a flop for opening weekend with revenues in the mid-teens in terms of $ millions…but it beat out Adam Sandler, thank Og.
… One thing that is bothering me a little as an anachronism. I may or may not have frequented strip bars in the mid-80s, and I do not recall pole dancing being a “thing.”
Now, was it just that I was going to shabby little skank places, and girls *were *pole dancing at those high-class movie-strip-bars where no one ever takes off their clothes, or am I right in this being an untimely addition?
I’m conflicted about this film. I love the cast (at least, those who I’ve heard of), but the reviews make me think “rental” - on the other hand, this is a film which will definitely lose something played on a 23" PC screen with the volume set to normal levels.
Cruise is a Scientologist…much worse.
It was pretty awful without getting to fun awful.
The leads were completely forgettable. Baldwin and Brand were doing an SNL skit. It had its moments, but felt like an SNL skit.
Tom Cruise seemed to be the only one who realized he was in a movie and not just doing karaoke.
I haven’t seen it, but according to The Numbers, its budget is $70 million, and grossed under $15 million in its first 3 days. That doesn’t say much.
I didn’t even know Cruise was in it until maybe Friday, when I read an article about it. Seeing the TV spots, I knew Baldwin was in it. I’d consider seeing it, not for Cruise, but for Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Bryan Cranston, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, but I’ll probably not see it, because from reading this thread, I’d just as soon skip the songs.
I’m not sure I knew Cruise was in it either until I saw the trailer, in which he’s prominently featured. The TV spots depicted the movie as a comedy in which Baldwin plays an '80s rock club manager.
That might explain my ignorance about Cruise being in it. I mute commercials, and try not to even pay attention to them (in the case of ubiquitous insurance commercials, like Progressive, I see that it’s on, then actively look away).
No, it really, really won’t. I promise.
I’m one of those who doesn’t even care about going to the movie theater, and would rather rent 90 percent of the time. There ARE some movies I really do want to see in the theater, and I, too, thought this would be one of them.
it really, really wasn’t.
Also…can’t believe I confused Scientologist with Christian Scientist. My ignorance about both denominations is obviously profound.
I agree, it was an odd assortment, as someone who graduated from high school when this movie(musical) was set, the music was poorly selected. To be honest I felt it was all directed at women, with the occasional rocker put in to satisfy the husbands.
Alot of the music was extremely dated for 1987 and some of the songs were released long after 1987.Come on, really? We weren’t listening to REO Speedwagon, Styx, Foreigner or Journey anymore, that the was group of kids before us.
Renegade - Styx - 1979
I Love Rock and Roll - Joan Jett - 1979
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar - 1979
Any Way You Want It -Journey - 1980
Keep on Lovin You - REO Speedwagon -1980
Juke Box Hero - Foreigner - 1981
Don’t Stop Believin -Journey - 1981
Harden My Heart - Quarterflash - 1981 (They were really digging, I guess)
Shadows of the Night - Pat Benetar - 1982
Honesty alot of this music as well as Scorpions, Night Ranger, Quiet Riot, and Twisted Sister was pretty forgotten by 1987.
Also, while Appetite for Destruction was released in 1987, it did not chart until a full year later in 1988.
These songs weren’t released in 1987 either.
Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison -1988
Nothin but a Good Time - Poison - 1988
Just Like Paradise -David Lee Roth - 1988
Heaven - Warrant - 1989
I Remember You - Skid Row - 1989
High Enough -Damn Yankees - 1991
More Than Words- Extreme - 1991
To Be With You Mr. Big - 1991
Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, and Def Leppard were really the only music actually from that year.
I think the most glaring omission is Motley Crue. Any film or musical depicting the “scene” on Sunset during the 80s must include the Crue. (love’ em or hate 'em)
Other things I noted.
I played in a band back then called “Rock Brigade” back in the 80s and I spotted a poster in the background of some scenes, could be coincidence but I’m gonna check it out.
The intro to Van Halen’s “Everybody Wants Some” as the band warms up.
I loved the Marquee of The Bourbon featuring Bad Religion, Exciter, and Jetboy and the huge Motorhead Orgasmatron billboard.
I loved the record store scenes, I have almost every vinyl album shown and I had alot of the same posters on the walls.