Bring back the 80s!

Rating: 7/10 (23 September 2001)

Actually, this is not a bad movie.
But the problem with this kind of movie is, that it won't interest people other than those who grew up in the 80s.
Yes, the story is cliché, no wonder about that, but it could have happened today (after all, all boys band are wannabe who got hired to play the dummy and sing for a manager), but since it's located in the 80s with rock bands (do people really classify this as metal? Hard Rock ok, but metal? please..)
But, just like the movie "The Wedding Singer", you get in this movie and you suddenly miss the 80s, and how fun it was back then.
So, don't go see this movie if you want a serious movie, go to this movie if you wish to be entertained and have a bit of nostalgia.
As for the acting, I like Mark Whalberg, and it's an interesting choice of actor, because he's actually, well, you know, the brother of Danny Wahlberg of NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, which is one of the "boys band" of the 90s who was a manager creation, so maybe he got input from his brother... but we all know Mark Whalberg is a former hip-hop artist, I guess it's the only kind of music he can sings, if they didn't use his vocals on this movie... then maybe I'm wrong, but I sure know on the soundtrack it's not him!
As for the music itself, it's really up to the level of those hair bands in the 80s, you can seriously swap those songs with Bon Jovi or Motley Crue and it would do. I must say that's it's almost a shame they put that "metal" chorus on "We All Die Young", because that song is radio hit potential.
As for comparing this movie to Almost Famous, well, maybe it's another rock band, but no, this one is a best entertainment than Almost Famous, but Almost Famous is more original and more "serious".