Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

When I was only fourteen years old, I had the opportunity to be the lead singer for Bad Company one night when they rolled into Compton Terrace, a huge outdoor concert venue located in Phoenix, AZ.

The crowd erupted with noise as I sang my heart out on every song we performed. The energy was so intense that the fans didn't even seem to mind that lead singer Paul Rodgers was out of commission with a sinus infection.

Of course, I was the perfect choice to replace him because I had memorized the words to all of Bad Company's songs and I wanted to share the stage with the band more than anybody else in the whole world. The lyrics to Rock-N-Roll Fantasy had always resonated deep down inside of me:

"Here come the jesters 1-2-3,
It's all part of my fantasy.
I love the music and I love to see the crowd
Dancing in the aisles and singing out loud."

That night marked the beginning of my erstwhile career as a rock star. Most of the time I would sing onstage dressed only in a bath towel -- my hair still soaked from the shower. The crowd didn't seem to mind. They saw me the way I wanted them to see me. It didn't matter that my voice was off-key. In fact, the harder I tried to belt out all of the high notes, the more I became painfully aware that my voice was comparable to the screeching mating calls of a sore-throated hippopotamus.

I didn't care because my imagination was always more powerful than my common sense.

By the way, I also toured with Def Leppard, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Scorpions, on occasion.

I don't remember when I stopped playing that dream in my mind, but part of me still wishes that the fantasy could have been reality.

I suppose that is why I had high expectations going into Rock Star, the movie about a wannabe who got to be. Lord knows I've been there myself, and, except for having a God-awful voice and zero guitar-playing skills, I was as good as any bona fide rock star out there.

I am glad to say that not only is Rock Star a very good film, it also stirs up those old rock-n-roll daydreams.

The film works largely because Mark Wahlberg (Planet of the Apes) brings intensity and innocence to the character of Chris Cole, a young man who is completely fixated on a 1980's heavy metal group called Steel Dragon, so much so that he has formed a cover/tribute band named after one of their songs -- Blood Pollution.

Chris's obsession eventually causes a rift with his bandmates, who fire him because he only wants to mimic the music of Steel Dragon perfectly, and they see the songs as a means to an end: if they can get popular playing cover songs, then maybe they can write and sing their own material some day.

Fortunately, Chris's steadfast girlfriend and former Blood Pollution manager, Emily (Jennifer Aniston, Friends), believes in his talent and remains by his side. It isn't long before a new door opens to replace the one that was slammed shut: the members of Steel Dragon have fired their bandleader, as well, and they hold tryouts for a new singer.

After an auspicious audition, Chris's dream of being somebody else magically come true. Before you can say, "Didn't something like that actually happen with Judas Priest?," Chris finds himself performing with Kirk Cuddy (Dominic West, 28 days) and the other members of the band he worships.

Coincidentally, Steel Dragon is comprised of real musicians, sort of a Traveling Wilbury mix of heavy metal rockers, including Zakk Wylde, Jason Bonham and Jeff Pilson.

This was a good casting call because the performances need to be authentic in order for the movie to work, and the rough-edged rockers sell the story well. Helping things out considerably is Wahlberg, who lip-syncs so well that you might be fooled into believing he actually provides the singing for the film.

The illusion is quite effective, but what about the actual story? I've read plenty of reviews that have complained that the story is full of cliches. Such a criticism has some merit, yet I still thoroughly enjoyed this film.

Rock Star is predictable. Chris becomes famous and quickly learns the pitfalls of fame. He begins to subscribe to the kind of lifestyle that resembles the ones of those old washed-up rock stars who can be found any night of the week on VH1's Behind the Music series. This is a familiar story, but at least director Stephen Herek (Holy Man, Mr. Holland's Opus) gives the film plenty of passion.

I was a bit disappointed that Mark Wahlberg's character arc passed by rather quickly. The movie is over too soon, which is odd since it clocks in at about two hours long. I had the distinct impression that many scenes were cut in order to maintain a brisk pace.

I personally feel that a movie is better off leaving you wanting more than giving you too much, so I still enjoyed Rock Star despite these faults. The film has so many good qualities going for it, not the least of which is some fun concert footage that really rocks. The song lyrics of Steel Dragon tread the fine line between mocking the lyrically-generic 1980s rock anthems and celebrating the pure intensity of the music.

Additionally, the film is consistently clever and it never loses its sense of humor. I found it hilarious that Chris used his newfound wealth and fame to buy the Batmobile and that his parents seemed to love Steel Dragon's music as much as he does. The film isn't afraid to go for laughs in the middle of all of the drama.

Of course, there is a fair amount of drama and most of it comes from watching an innocent character like Chris become corrupted. Wahlberg carries the film effortlessly.

Helping him along in an excellent performance is Aniston, who has the thankless role of being the only normal person in the film. She struggles to maintain that normalcy. It isn't a flashy role by any means, but Aniston is spunky and sympathetic, capable of giving the film a hardcore emotional center with some very moving scenes. She is definitely at her best.

If you are looking for a fun film that juggles comedy and drama, Rock Star fits the bill. In the genre of rock films, it doesn't quite end up as effective as Almost Famous, but it succeeds very well in its own way.

In fact, Cameron Crowe's bittersweet semi-autobiographical tale focused on rock-n-roll just as it was losing its purity and becoming more commercial in the 1970s. Herek's film is almost like a sequel to Almost Famous because it is a continuation of the story; rock-n-roll becomes more blatantly commercial in the 1980s and rock bands are even more concerned with selling records and achieving glory.

Both films are dramatically different, but I couldn't resist comparing them to each other because they share an important underlying theme: in the end, both films recognize that it is the music that truly matters.






Recommended: Yes

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age