Nothing but a good time or Wanted dead or alive?

Rock of Ages, the epic musical which brings big hair and a lot of attitude, is now on our big screens packed with a shed load Hollywood stars and ear shattering music.
Much hype has been created about the release of Rock of Ages, PR's must have been working 24/7 just to make damn sure this film got the credit it deserves.

There a few changes from the stage version as some songs have been omitted like 'High enough' by the Damn Yankees and "I hate myself for loving you/Heat of the moment' by Joan Jett and Asia, some songs have been added onto the film like 'Pour some sugar on me' by Def Leppard and 'Paradise city' by Guns 'n Roses. The story is pretty much the same, girl meets boy in LA, on the infamous Sunset Strip and it's their journey finding themselves and each other. Add a bitching venue like the Bourbon room, the strip's best venue, where most of the story takes place. The owner Dennis Dupree, played by Alec Baldwin and his sidekick Lonny, Russell Brand who are trying to save the place from the tax people; and a rockstar Stacee Jaxx played by Tom Cruise, setting the bar for wannabe rockstar bar back, Drew played by Diego Boneta.

The story can sometimes run a little slow and off the pace sometimes, but the music and passion certainly makes up for this. With hits such as 'Wanted dead or alive,' 'I wanna rock,' and 'Here I go again' you soon find yourself stomping your foot and rocking your head.
Casting could not have been better in this context, Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx is the headliner of the film and is just what the doctor ordered, an amazing voice and a very trim physique, he really does embody the term rock god.
Diego Boneta and Julianne Hough are our Protagonist couple Drew and Sherrie, the film boasts a whole Hollywood catalogue of stars so it's great to see some newcomers being put on to the bill and getting the same attention.

Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand make the perfect pair as Dennis and Lonny, they are the quintessential 'bromance' of the film, the only critique I have is, unfortunately, Russell's mancunian accent; it's not fantastic there were parts of the film I thought, please don't do that again. They should have kept his accent as normal, the mancunian accent doesn't work for him and he kept losing it from time to time. But, being Russell Brand he does he away with it and you soon forget about the accent.

The story is full of comedy moments that make you spit out your drink with laughter, moments that will make you cringe and full on musical performances that will want to make you stand up and rock in the cinema.
Best of all, you feel like you've been at a full on rock concert.

Story - 7/10  - Can be lost in parts, but stayed on track for the most part
Casting - 9/10 - Brand's accent, they should have kept his 'Essex' accent
Music - 10/10 - how can you resist Journey, Def Leppard, Poison and Bon Jovi?

I highly recommend Rock of Ages to everyone but maybe not under 12's, it is a little bit raunchy in places but for others it is worth seeing Tom Cruise half naked.

Stacee Jaxx - Tom Cruise