Rock of Ages (2012 film)

Rock of Ages is a 2012 American jukebox musical comedy film directed by Adam Shankman from a screenplay by Chris D'Arienzo, Allan Loeb, and Justin Theroux, based on the Broadway musical Rock of Ages by D'Arienzo. Produced by New Line Cinema and Corner Stone Entertainment in association with Offspring Entertainment and Material Pictures, the film stars Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta (in his film debut), leading an ensemble cast that includes Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Malin Åkerman, Mary J. Blige, Bryan Cranston and Tom Cruise. Like the stage musical, the film features the music of many 1980s rock artists including Def Leppard, Journey, Scorpions, Poison, Foreigner, Guns N' Roses, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Bon Jovi, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake, REO Speedwagon, and others.

After the success of the stage musical, the film rights were sold to Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line in early 2009. Shankman was confirmed as director in October, with D'Arienzo announced to be adapting his book into the screenplay, later joined by Loeb and Theroux. Originally scheduled to enter production in summer 2009 for a 2011 release, it eventually commenced production in May 2011, with Hough, Boneta, Cruise, Brand, Baldwin, Giamatti, Zeta-Jones, Blige, Cranston, Åkerman, and the rest of the cast already filled out.

Principal photography took place between May and August of that year, with locations including Miami, Hollywood, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as well as Los Angeles. Aside from the songs, the duo of Adam Anders and Peer Åström composed the film's incidental score.

Rock of Ages premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on June 8, 2012, and was released in the United States on June 15, by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film received mixed to negative critical reviews and was a box-office bomb, grossing only $59.4 million worldwide on a $75 million budget. While criticism was aimed at its script and the lack of faithfulness to its source material, Cruise's performance was praised, particularly for his performances of "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Wanted Dead or Alive". The related film soundtrack was also well-received, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Top Soundtracks chart.

Plot In 1987 Los Angeles, Sherrie Christian arrives from Oklahoma with dreams of becoming a singer. Sherrie's suitcase is stolen, and barback Drew Boley gets her a job as a waitress at the Bourbon Room after the previous waitress quits ("Sister Christian/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But a Good Time").

Desperate to save the club from a tax debt, the club's owner Dennis Dupree and his right-hand man Lonny Barnett book Stacee Jaxx, a detached and self-indulgent rock star preparing for his final gig with his band Arsenal. Drew tells Sherrie his own dreams of becoming a rock star, but that he has stagefright ("Juke Box Hero/I Love Rock 'n' Roll"). Learning of Stacee's upcoming concert, Patricia Whitmore, the conservative wife of mayor Mike Whitmore, organizes a protest in front of the club ("Hit Me with Your Best Shot").

Drew and Sherrie have their first date at the Hollywood Sign ("Waiting for a Girl Like You"), where Drew reveals he is writing a song for Sherrie ("Don't Stop Believin'"). On the night of Arsenal's final show, Dennis learns the opening act has cancelled; Sherrie convinces him to use Drew's band, Wolfgang Von Colt ("More Than Words/Heaven"). Stacee's manager, Paul Gill, schedules an interview with Constance Sack, a reporter for Rolling Stone.

Constance mentions rumors of Stacee's difficult behavior and implies he was kicked out of Arsenal, which Stacee denies ("Wanted Dead or Alive"). Stacee sends Sherrie for a bottle of scotch from his limo. Constance lashes out at the once-great Stacee; they recognize their mutual attraction and are about to have sex when Stacee sings ("I Want to Know What Love Is"). Ashamed, Constance leaves as Sherrie enters and collides with Stacee. Drew mistakenly believes that Sherrie and Stacee had sex and is angrily inspired to sing ("I Wanna Rock") for the opening act. Drew and Sherrie break up and she quits the Bourbon Room. Paul, impressed with his performance, offers Drew a record deal as Arsenal sings their last song of the night ("Pour Some Sugar on Me"). Arsenal's performance racks up $31,203 for Dennis and Lonny, but Gill takes the night's proceeds as part of "Stacee's take".

Sherrie takes refuge at a strip club, the Venus Club, where owner Justice Charlier offers her a job as a dancer ("Shadows of the Night/Harden My Heart"), but Sherrie chooses to wait tables. She realizes she needs more money, as Drew signs to Gill's record label ("Here I Go Again"). Dennis worries the Bourbon Room will close and that he has disappointed everyone. Lonny confesses his love for him, and Dennis reciprocates ("Can't Fight This Feeling"). Drew discovers his record deal makes him part of hip-hop boy band "The Zee Guyeezz" (double the e's, double the z's, double the flava) as Joshy Zee, while Sherrie decides to become a dancer at the Venus Club ("Any Way You Want It").

Sherrie visits the Hollywood Sign, where she finds Drew, whose life has also not gone as planned. She tells him she did not have sex with Stacee and will be returning to Oklahoma. They part ways, lamenting their situation ("Every Rose Has Its Thorn"). Drew's lonely wanderings take him to the Empire Records store where he spots Sherrie's stolen albums, apparently having been sold to the store by the thief. Drew finds and buys all the Sherrie-marked albums he can find and delivers them to the Venus Room. Upon receiving Drew's gift, Sherrie rekindles her love for Drew, and at Justice's urging, she heads to the Bourbon Room to reclaim true love.

Stacee realizes his feelings for Constance ("Rock You Like a Hurricane") and calls Rolling Stone to learn that she is covering his show at The Bourbon Room. Stacee rushes to the venue, where Lonny leads the patrons against Patricia's protest group ("We're Not Gonna Take It/We Built This City"). Stacee recognizes Patricia, whom Lonny exposes as a former Arsenal groupie. He also fires Paul for taking the night's proceeds and returns them to Dennis.

As the Zee Guyeezz are rejected by the crowd at the Bourbon Room, Drew spots Sherrie in the audience and leaves the stage. They reconcile, and Drew fires Paul. Sherrie reunites Wolfgang Von Colt onstage, where she and Drew perform the song he wrote for her ("Don't Stop Believin'"). Stacee, who is having sex with Constance in the bathroom, is moved by the song.

Eight months later, Stacee has rejoined Arsenal and performs the song with Drew and Sherrie, now part of Wolfgang Von Colt, at Dodger Stadium in front of a crowd including Dennis, Lonny, Justice, a pregnant Constance, and Patricia, who has returned to her rock 'n' roll persona.

Cast Julianne Hough as Sherrie Christian Diego Boneta as Drew Boley Russell Brand as Lonny Barnett Paul Giamatti as Paul Gill Catherine Zeta-Jones as Patricia Whitmore Malin Åkerman as Constance Sack Mary J. Blige as Justice Charlier Alec Baldwin as Dennis Dupree Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx Bryan Cranston as Mayor Mike Whitmore Will Forte as Mitch Miley Jack Mountford as Joey

Additionally, Kevin Nash and Jeff Chase starred as Jaxx's bodyguards. Constantine Maroulis, who played Drew in the original Broadway cast, appears as the Capitol Records executive during "Any Way You Want It".

Several 1980s musicians also made cameo appearances throughout the film, including Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, Debbie Gibson, Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, Joel Hoekstra of Night Ranger/Whitesnake and Porcelain Black, during "We Built This City/We're Not Gonna Take It".

Eli Roth makes an appearance as Stefano, the Zee Guys' music video director, and T. J. Miller appears as a Rolling Stone receptionist.

Production

Development After the success of the original Off-Broadway production, the film rights were sold to Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema in early 2009.McBride, Walter. (2009-03-04). "Photo Coverage: 'ROCK OF AGES' Meets the Press" . BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2011-04-11. Adam Shankman was hired to direct the film in October that year.Hetrick, Adam. "Shankman Will Direct Rock of Ages on Screen" . PlayBill.com. 2009-10-20. Retrieved 2011-04-11. Chris D'Arienzo, creator of the stage musical, revealed he was originally attached to write and direct the film, wishing to have it visualised as similar to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) musicals such as Singin' in the Rain, however the studio elected to hire someone they felt they could trust with the budget they wanted to give the film, resulting in Shankman's hiring.

Casting

Tom Cruise played Stacee Jaxx in the film.Kit, Borys. (2011-02-11). "Tom Cruise Closing Deal to Co-Star in 'Rock of Ages'" . The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-04-11. Shankman knew Cruise was in when he heard him on the first go around of his voice lesson, confirming he "actually has a fantastic voice." Cruise had been singing five hours a day to prepare for his work as musician Stacee Jaxx. "It's this brilliant mashup, it seems, of Axl Rose, Bret Michaels, Keith Richards and Jim Morrison," Shankman said of what to expect from Cruise. All of the actors sing their own parts in the film. Cruise said that he had always wanted to appear in a musical but he found the idea frightening because he was uncertain whether he could actually pull it off.The full interview was published in the June 26, 2012 issue of People Weekly Magazine.

On February 14, 2011, it was announced that Mary J. Blige had signed on to play Justice Charler in the film.(2011-02-14). "Mary J. Blige Signs on for ROCK OF AGES Film". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2011-04-11. On March 3, 2011, it was confirmed that Julianne Hough would play the role of Sherrie, Drew's love interest."Julianne Hough to Play Opposite Cruise in ROCK OF AGES Film". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2011-04-11. On March 6, 2011, it was confirmed that Alec Baldwin would play the role of Dennis Dupree in the film."'Rock of Ages' adds '30 Rock's' Alec Baldwin to the club" . HitFix.com. Retrieved 2011-04-11. Baldwin's agreement to star in the film prompted Warner Bros. to have the film fast-tracked. On March 24, 2011, it was announced that Paul Giamatti would be in the film, playing the manager of Stacee Jaxx."Paul Giamatti joining Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin in 'Rock of Ages'" . HitFix.com. Retrieved 2011-04-11.

Pretty Little Liars star Diego Boneta was confirmed to play the male protagonist, Drew Boley, on April 5, 2011.Stransky, Tanner. "'Rock of Ages': Director Adam Shankman on casting Diego Boneta, putting Tom Cruise through 'rock-star boot camp'" . InsideMovies.EW.com. Retrieved 2011-04-11. Not wanting an older actor to act like he is 23, Shankman thought it better to go as authentic as possible, "and Diego is absolutely that. He is [a] kid who came to Los Angeles with a dream and who sings and has an amazing voice, and drive. And he's also as honest and sweet as you can possibly make him and he's authentically the age. It creates a piece of something on screen that I don't have to fabricate." Of Boneta's audition, Shankman said, "It's that feeling you get when you realized you've discovered lightning in a bottle. It reminds me of when Zac Efron auditioned for Hairspray, Channing Tatum for Step Up, and Liam Hemsworth auditioned for The Last Song. When the guy walks in, the guy walks in!" Shankman also said he did not know that Boneta was a Latin music star until after he auditioned. "I have since seen him on stage and in his concerts, and he totally owns the room," Shankman said.

Constantine Maroulis (Drew Boley from the musical) made a cameo appearance in the film like Ricki Lake did for Hairspray. On April 13, Russell Brand was confirmed to portray Lonny.