Big name Metal Band adopts new lead singer. So you want to be a rock star? Juvenile with mediocre music. 1 Fly out of Five

Rating: Null/10 (19 November 2001)

Isn't Metal music about real noise, rebellion and anarchy? Are the makers of Rock Star really trying to tell us that cynical corporatism rules even in the Metal world? Is this a film only aimed at tut tutting, middle aged, failed musos, turned film execs, who are trying to make a buck out of stupid metal heads who'll watch anything as long as a few distorted guitars and Jennifer Aniston are on show?
And do these film producers really believe that we the viewing public are as dumbed down as they are, or at least would like us all to be?
Who's going to see Rock Star. Judas Priest Fans? One or two at a stretch I'd say. Judas Priest, unless they're the big headed, manipulative, shallow b*****ds they're portrayed to be in this film, also wouldn't go. They'll no doubt send their lawyers but that's another story.
And what of Mark Wahlberg as Chris Cole, who's obviously meant to be Tim `Ripper' Owens. Owens was a devoted fan and a member of a Judas Priest tribute band who in 1997 replaced Rob Halford as Priest's lead singer.
Cole in Rock Star pulls the same trick but is Wahlberg the actor really interested in anything Wahlberg does? Two generations ago we might have called him an existentialist. Mark Wahlberg could have walked straight out of Catcher In The Rye if he could have cared. Remember Val Kilmer in The Doors? Now that man was involved. There was a real rock star. Wahlberg as a Metal Man, no way!
Still the orgy scene was pretty good fun and I am a sucker for stage fright. That scene where the new lead singer fronts that huge stadium crowd was a fine moment. But the bliss only lasted 60 Seconds.
One Wimpy Fly Out of Five