Rock Star
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Here’s another movie from my Guilty Pleasure file. It’s 2001’s Rock Star, starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. Normally i don’t go for predictable rom-coms—unless, that is, they somehow surprise me with a fresh hook that I can’t turn away from. And in the case of Rock Star, which is definitely a paint-by-numbers light drama, the fact that it also takes place in the world of heavy metal arena rock makes it utterly goofy and irresistible to me. This movie is like a sitcom version of Spinal Tap, but without any of that film’s brilliant self-mocking humor. Instead, in true Hollywood fashion, Rock Star strives to be a serious and earnest portrayal of life in a famous metal band; a band with big hair and…well, with big hair. I love it!
The movie is based on the real-life story of Tim “Ripper” Owens who was the lead singer in a Judas Priest tribute band when Rob Halford, the lead singer of the real Judas Priest, quit the band. The remaining members, however, wanted to keep going. So when they heard about Ripper’s uncanny ability to sing their songs, they hired him to be their new lead singer…and the next day, Ripper woke up a star.
This movie is worth its weight in eyeliner and metalcore breakdowns.
Fans of Judas Priest and the band itself objected to how Ripper and the band were portrayed in the movie. But for my money, the Frankenstein that the filmmakers brought to life in this fictionalized version is worth its weight in eyeliner and metalcore breakdowns.
The name of the band was changed from Judas Priest to Steel Dragon. And Ripper Owens became Chris Cole. As Chris, Mark Wahlberg has an innocent, little-boy-lost quality about him, especially when he first leaves the tribute band and finds himself living the high life, singing for Steel Dragon before thousands of adoring fans. As you might guess, as much fun as Chris starts having, his Midwest decency is no match for the corrupting influences of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Before he knows it, even his loyal girlfriend Jennifer Aniston is slipping away.
Can their love be saved? Will Chris escape Steel Dragon and somehow find true happiness in just being himself? Rock Star has enough cliches to startle a story editor out of a deep coma. But like a man who’s had one shot of tequila too many, I say the more cliches the merrier! Add a cast with great actors like Dominic West and Timothy Olyphant—both suffering under ridiculous longhair wigs—and for me watching Rock Star again is like going back for another helping of comfort food that you know is no damn good for you, but you just can’t resist.
I give Rock Star a Guilty Pleasure two-out-of-four stars. But, Judas Priest, those two stars are fun!
