Rock Star promises much but stumbles (Warning!!! Contains Spoilers)

Rating: 5/10 (13 August 2002)

When I heard that a film was in the works based on the real life search for the replacement of former Judas Priest singer Rob Halford I was intrigued. After months of Internet hype, I was genuinely excited. After seeing the movie, however, I was left wanting.
(Warning!!! Spoilers Ahead)
Truth be told, there were aspects of this film that I enjoyed. For one, the original music written for Rock Star is excellent. Moreover, the previously released music supplied by Motley Crüe, Bon Jovi, and Ted Nugent rocks as well. However, therein lies one of the major drawbacks of this film-when the final credits rolled, I had an incredible urge to buy the soundtrack; not to see this movie again.
I did not rush out to see this movie again because I felt that I had been cheated story wise. The non-fictional events took place this way: A man works hard by day and at night, works even harder fronting a Judas Priest cover band. This cover band could have easily given in and started playing grunge or alternative music to please more people. However, they stick to the music that they love and one of them gets the opportunity to front the band that they all revere. When given this opportunity, Tim `Ripper' Owens, seizes it with both hands and to this day, is still the lead singer for Judas Priest. Seems made for Hollywood, right? A classic tale of holding on to your dreams, working hard, and taking advantage of the opportunity when (and most importantly, if) it knocks.
Something happened when the cameras started rolling though. What Rock Star became was a story of a man who gets an opportunity to fulfill his dreams but throws it all away because he mistreated his girlfriend. Moreover, he cuts his hair and starts an alternative band!!! I understand that Hollywood has to make a movie accessible to the public but turning a film that should have been about a love for a form of music into a trite `boy cheats on girl, boy loses girl, boy gives up everything to get girl back' love story is too much!
I know that some people may not understand that true metal musicians would find it hard to swallow this picture. I also understand that the audience that will find this film appealing are the people that are fans of Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. Unfortunately, sticking to the original story that got George Clooney interested in this project would have made a better film. If you are looking for a date flick disguised as an ode to 80's metal then Rock Star is for you. However, you are not going to be satisfied if you think that Rock Star is the movie that finally chronicles the hard rocking 80's.