"Rock of Ages" Resurrects the Rockin 80s

"This place is about to become a sea of sweat, ear-shattering music and puke. So start drinking…now!" bellows out club owner Dennis Dupree (Alec Baldwin) and ahh... I'm home again - That home to me and my tribe in the late 80s, prowling Sunset Boulevard in boots, big hair, and leather. Looking for fame, fun, loud music, and love. We found a little of each back then, and now everyone can - in "Rock of Ages"!

Living a similar parallel life back then, Stacy was my perfect companion to see this movie. We didn't go expecting much, but this over-the-top anthemic 80s musical (yes, musical) blew us away in so many ways. Started out simple enough - Small town girl Sherrie and city boy Drew, who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams. Their rock ‘n’ roll romance is told through the heart-pounding hits of Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake, and more.

But the movie takes so many cool, unexpected twists and turns, and in doing so somehow:
* conjurs the cool, insider's POV like Spinal Tap did,  but characterized and satirized in a fun way rather than the depricating spiral that Spinal Tap was
* doesn't allow Tom Cruise's Stacee Jaxx to descend into the nihilistic tailspin of Pink in "The Wall"
* doesn't even come close to the cheesy camp of other rock musicals like "Mamma Mia"

It found redeeming qualities in characters that Hollywood usually milks for their "train-wreck" value, and managed to not take itself too seriously, but without any Will Farrell-style goofiness. It was at the same time an homage, a roast, and even documentary of a time that those of us that were there remember with a smile, a cringe, and a sigh...
Way to go, Hollywood, this time you got it right. You can still rock in America!