Rock of Ages

The hit Broadway play featuring ’80s hair rock comes to the big screen courtesy of director Adam Shankman (Hairspray), and the results are a mixed bag. Tom Cruise is amazing as jaded rock-star Stacee Jaxx, a role that affords Cruise the opportunity to sing—and sing well. He belts out songs like “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” with such authority, it’s a wonder we haven’t heard this guy singing sooner. Julianne Hough is so-so in the typical girl-moves-to-big-city-to-make-it-big role. The other members of the cast, including Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Catherine Zeta-Jones, all have fun singing crap songs. The movie is overlong, and not too bright, yet it’s enjoyable whenever Cruise takes over.