I don’t like musicals and I don’t like Tom Cruise. Thus, it was unusual to find myself sitting down of a Friday night to watch “Rock of Ages” which, I quickly learned, incorporated both.
It’s not that I dislike all musicals–I even have a few in my DVD library–but spending my first 35 years playing several musical instruments, I sweated in the pit during every school drama production, suffered through interminable summer “Pops” concerts, and endured nearly as many “Holiday Galas.” In short, of musicals I’ve had my fill.
As for Tom Cruise, well, he’s just one of those actors who can’t seem to get out of his own way. Again, my stance is not monolithic; I’ve liked him in a few films, but never as a leading man. When Cruise plays the chiseled-chin hero, the steely eyed fighter pilot lawyer spy covert operative race car driver, I always see the actor behind the mask. In every scene–especially in those critical, top-of-the-trailer tag-line scenes–behind that gritty, squint-eyed glare I see…Tom Cruise, thinking, working hard, working as hard as he possibly can to be that chiseled-chin hero, working his ass off trying to not be Tom Cruise.
At which he fails. But not here. Not in “Rock of Ages.” You see, I have learned a true Hollywood secret: Tom Cruise is one of our greatest character actors.
It’s true, it’s true. I didn’t believe it myself at first, but when I go back over his oeuvre, I find this to be so. In character roles–roles that are as far removed from the muscled good-guy hero as I am from…from Tom Cruise–in roles like these, Tom Cruise simply rocks.
Tom Cruise’s performance as Stacee Jaxx, the dissolute, whisky-steeped rock idol, completely steals this show. Set in 1987, “Rock of Ages” utilizes a clever mash-up of iconic anthems all seamlessly entwined with original scoring. Everyone from Tom Cruise to Alec Baldwin does their own singing (a welcome trend in modern musicals); even Paul Giamatti honks out a line or two. The movies main singing is left to its two young stars, Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta. Hough’s chipmunk twang is more suited to country/western than ’80s rock ballads, she carries her part well, and Boneta’s strong, clean voice fits perfectly into the era’s classic tunes.
The story itself is a bit of a mash-up, too, mixing classic, new-girl-in-Hollywood tropes with the story of a seminal rock venue’s last days, all spun together with a heavy dash of “Bye, Bye, Birdie.” But with its tongue in its cheek, the movie delivers a fun blast-from-the-past trip filled with exuberant implausibility and clever writing. As when Hough and Boneta compare their sad turns their lives have taken: Hough states “I’m a stripper at the Venus Club,” and Boneta says, “I’m in a boy band.” To which Hough replies, “You win.” (I’d have to agree.)
But watching Tom Cruise in this movie, I completely forgot I was watching Tom Cruise. Just like in the roles as the despicable Les Grossman in “Tropic Thunder” and the completely amoral Vincent in “Collateral,” Tom Cruise disappeared in the role of Stacee Jaxx. He simply wasn’t there, leaving was nothing but the character, and it was delightful.
So, next time you’re wanting some fun, do yourself a favor and rent “Rock of Ages,” “Collateral,” and “Tropic Thunder.” Sit down, crack open a beer, and enjoy the ride.
k
Oh I think he was great in Tropic Thunder. Wonder why he didn’t do more of that kind of acting. I’ll have to check out Rock of Ages soon.
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Obviously, I agree. And I would think the reason has to do with money and prestige.
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