Jan Wahl Movie Review: 'Rock of Ages' & 'Your Sister's Sister'
(CBS SF) – KCBS Entertainment Reporter, Jan Wahl reviews 'Rock of Ages' staring Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Akerman, Mary J. Blige, Alec Baldwin and Tom Cruise.
ROCK OF AGES (R)
It was a Broadway musical, now a movie: Rock of Ages (PG-13). Take some rockin' music by Journey, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, REO Speedwagon.
Mix with a fun plot about a small town girl and city boy who meets on the Sunset Strip. They are both pursuing their Hollywood dreams while working in a rock club. The soundtrack tells their story, as well as the world of 1980's pop culture and music.
The central love story stars Diego Boneta and Julianne Hough, a girl who arrives in LA with just a suitcase of her favorite rock LP's. There are a lot of other plots going on, too - club Owner Alec Baldwin and his colleague Russell Brand try to save the business and keep their club open while having a beautiful love story of their own. Catherine Zeta-Jones is a politician's wife determined to stop the music. But, it is Tom Cruise who steals every scene he's in as the world's biggest rock and roll star - kind of a combination Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Jim Morrison.
This movie is directed by Adam Shankman, who gave us Hairspray. This one is fun, upbeat, wild, a good time - you won't be able to stop rockin'' and the characters are enjoyable, too. Three hats.
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YOUR SISTER'S SISTER (R)
Writer/Director Lynn Shelton tells the rich story of a man reeling from the death of his brother. Mark Duplass plays the troubled young man. His brother's girlfriend (Emily Blunt) offers the family cabin to him, where he meets another sister coming out of heartbreak. Rosemarie DeWitt plays this sister. Good dialog, character comedy, fine drama and romance. Three hats.
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See Right Now: Bernie, Hysteria, Moonrise Kingdom, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Home Viewing/DVD: W.E., Albert Nobbs, Carol Channing: Larger Than Life.
Exhibition at the Old Mint (5th and Mission, SF): The Stuff that Dreams are Made Of: SF in the Movies.
You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl's movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.
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