Tasteless, stupid, sophomoric, but undeniably funny

Rating: 6/10 (3 March 2003)

I never liked KISS. If it wasn't for their make-up and pyrotechnics, I don't think anyone would have given this overrated band a second glance. DETROIT ROCK CITY may not be the best thing to come out of their existence, but it sure is better than KISS VS. THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK.
DRC is not a particularly good movie, but I can't say I didn't laugh my butt off quite a few times. The scene in which Edward Furlong drinks too much, then vomits into an empty beer pitcher to the tune of "Boogie Shoes" was the funniest vomit joke I've seen since the "Autumn Years" segment from MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE. The scene in which the boys are hiding in a girls bathroom while they listen to a cute girl crap her brains out in the next stall was another sophomoric but funny moment. And a scene in which they get a priest high on mushrooms to break their buddy out of parochial school brings tastelessness to a new level.
This movie is proof that you can be stupid AND funny, just as long as you are indeed funny. A lot of comedies think just setting up a stupid/tasteless situation will automatically provide laughs, then do nothing to make the joke work. DETROIT ROCK CITY works. It might be dumb, crude and immoral, but it made me laugh. That's all I ask.