Weekend Movie Trailers & Reviews: Does 'Rock of Ages' Rock?
by Andy NeuenschwanderIf you're heading to the movie theater this weekend, there are still some decent holdover options out there, like last week's "Prometheus" and "Madagascar 3," both of which earned favorable reviews. But if you're aiming to see a brand-new movie, you might find the pickings to be a bit slim.
"Rock of Ages"
Rated PG-13, 2 hrs. 03 mins.
The jukebox musical has jumped from the stage to the screen, as the Broadway hit becomes a Hollywood flick. "Rock of Ages" is essentially a collection of songs from the 80's sung by famous people and tied together by a narrative that includes some kooky characters and a romance here and there.
The cast is impressive: Alec Baldwin, Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Paul Giamatti Russell Brand, and many others make up the all-singing, all-dancing group cast of characters. Featured music includes Joan Jett, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, and many more. Yes, that includes Journey.
Critics are lukewarm about "Rock of Ages," as the movie currently has a 45% on Rotten Tomatoes. Detractors cite the length and a lack of stakes, making the movie very long and a bit silly. But if you want silliness and singing, you might enjoy it.
See it if: You want to hear some good old-fashioned auto-tuning when Tom starts singing.
"That's My Boy"
Rated R, 1 hr. 54 mins.
Adam Sandler is back, apparently not having missed a beat after the dismal "Jack and Jill." But this time, things are a little different... while Sandler has often (if not always) aimed for PG-13 ratings, "That's My Boy" is a full-on R. And it's raunchy enough to warrant it.
The story follows Sandler who plays (surprise, surprise) a man-child. At the age of 15, he had an affair with a teacher and ended up raising his son (played by Andy Samberg) into adulthood. The two reunite later on and attempt to bond, and it's clear that Sandler has not grown up.
Critics have been unkind to "That's My Boy" thus far, with the movie currently at 17% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it's certainly a step up from "Jack and Jill." We may never see Sandler returning to the level of "Billy Madison," so if you're to remain a Sandler fan, this is probably as good as it's going to get.
See it if: Andy Samberg's heroic attempt to make the trailer funny worked for you.