Critic Reviews
Rock Star (2001) Rank 5 Reviews
Expert Review Summary
based on (174) reviews
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Reviews by Score:
Cinema em Cena (Pablo Villaça)
AboutFilm.com (Carlo Cavagna)
Zertinet Movies (Steven Snyder)
Moda Magazine (Brian Orndorf)
Movies for Guys
DVDork.com (Roger Herridge)
San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
Greenwich Village Gazette (Eric Lurio)
UpcomingDiscs.com (Jeremy Frost)
JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Mark Wahlberg plays Chris Coles, a copier repairman by day and lead singer for a heavy metal rock group at night. Not just any group, but a "tribute band" for the most popular metal group in the nation, Steel Dragon. When the real lead singer fo ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
dvdfuture.com (Ken Pierce)
GamePro.com ("Air Hendrix")
The Movie Chicks
Film Quips Online (John R. McEwen)
Garpsworld Cinema (Brian Drury)
It’s an interesting take on the dreams can come true spin, since Chris’ dreams aren’t remotely original. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Garpsworld Cinema (Brian Drury)
txreviews.com (Curtis Edmonds)
Movies for Guys (--)
Empire Magazine (--)
Salon (Stephanie Zacharek)
But even here, in a role that doesn't ask much of Wahlberg, I find plenty of evidence that he's among the finest actors of his generation. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Salon (Stephanie Zacharek)
LA Weekly (Manohla Dargis)
Wahlberg has turned into one of the most sympathetic and persuasive young actors around, and while his new movie remains safely, even shrewdly, in the middle of the road, he rocks. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at LA Weekly (Manohla Dargis)
Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
Even though it's weak in the final stages, Rock Star has more than enough sparkle to last you. That's chiefly thanks to Wahlberg, the main firework of this movie. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
Even though it's weak in the final stages, Rock Star has more than enough sparkle to last you. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
Matt's Movie Reviews (Matt Easterbrook)
Sex with Jennifer Aniston, or sex with hundreds of underage, wild, horny groupies? Hmmm ... now there's a tough decision I wouldn't mind making. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Matt's Movie Reviews (Matt Easterbrook)
The Common Guy (Paul Hall)
ninth symphony films
CineScene.com (Gareth Von Kallenbach)
A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
DVD Authority.com (Matt Brighton & Michael Eiff)
Wolf Entertainment Guide (William Wolf)
The Land of Eric (Eric D. Snider)
The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
MovieJustice (Dan DeVore)
Movieman's Guide to the Movies (Brian Oliver)
FilmHead.com (Matt Heffernan)
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
DVD Clinic ("Tony Pacemaker")
Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
Austin Chronicle (Kimberley Jones)
Reel Movie Critic (George O. Singleton)
Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)
Palo Alto Weekly (Jeanne Aufmuth)
A predictable but engaging romp through the planet of crotch-tight leather pants, big hair, and roadie bus orgies. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Palo Alto Weekly (Jeanne Aufmuth)
Palo Alto Online (Jeanne Aufmuth)
Big Picture Big Sound (Mike Tretola)
San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
An irresistible movie about a guy who goes on a journey, the kind an audience can't wait to take with him. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
A breezy, if unoriginal, exploration of the price of fame. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
New York Post (Jonathan Foreman)
Easily one of the most enjoyable big-budget Hollywood movies to come along in a while, Rock Star is an unexpected pleasure. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at New York Post (Jonathan Foreman)
filmcritic.com (Norm Schrager)
Snack Bar (Adam J. Hakari)
Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)
The acting is excellent, and the movie has a good-natured spirit to match its ultimate faith in the hero's deep-down goodness. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Christian Science Monitor (David Sterritt)
TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
An affectionate romantic drama made by and for people in love with music. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
Guess the Gross
Film Monthly (Hank Yuloff)
DVD Town (John J. Puccio)
DVD Verdict (Patrick Naugle)
The Trades (Andrea Hazard)
TNMC (Andy "Dogburt" Burt)
DVDwolf (Rob Paul)
MovieEye.com (David Litton)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Ed Masley)
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
filethirteen.com
BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
allesfilm.com (Markus Steiger)
Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
Entertainment Insiders (Michael Eiff)
MovieMaze (Thomas Straßer)
The New York Times - Family Movie Guide (Peter M. Nichols)
Movies 101 (Robert Glatzer)
MovieJuice! (Mark Ramsey)
This is Lancashire (--)
The New York Times (A.O. Scott)
Represents the usual victory of simplistic screenwriting conventions over the rich, gamy ambiguities of the subject. But while its slide into perfunctory storytelling dilutes the raw, silly spectacle of sex and noise, the movie still has enough wit and ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at The New York Times (A.O. Scott)
Washington Post (Rita Kempley)
The most unlikely of undertakings: an energetic feel-good movie about sex, drugs and other rock-related depravities. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Washington Post (Rita Kempley)
Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
A genial look at what happens when a wannabe becomes a headliner, Rock Star only stumbles when it decides it has to deliver a lesson about What's Really Important. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
Village Voice (J. Hoberman)
Raking over the same clichés as "Almost Famous," Rock Star is far less reverential -- it isn't burdened by generational nostalgia and doesn't take itself too seriously. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Village Voice (J. Hoberman)
Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
Las Vegas Weekly
The Boston Phoenix
The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
Reeling Reviews (Robin and Laura Clifford)
Screen It! Entertainment Reviews for Parents
hybridmagazine.com
PopMatters (Mike Ward)
Entertainment Weekly (Lisa Schwarzbaum)
This movie is as packed with flashy bogusness as a lead singer's tight leather trousers. On the other hand, there's nothing bogus about the charisma and tough sweetness of Wahlberg. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Lisa Schwarzbaum)
eye WEEKLY (Jason Anderson)
Austin Chronicle (Kimberley Jones)
It's a goofy, tongue-in-cheek, my-gawd-how-could-we-be-so-dumb shrine, but a shrine nonetheless. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Austin Chronicle (Kimberley Jones)
Philadelphia City Paper (Sam Adams)
Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
Its familiar story has pleasing quirks. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
By the end of the film I conceded, yes, there are good performances and the period is well captured, but the movie didn't convince me of the feel and the flavor of its experiences. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Eleanor Ringel Gillespie)
Like the Muzak version of a Def Leppard hit. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Eleanor Ringel Gillespie)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
R ock is a business like any other, and musicians are businessmen, and what goes on behind the scenes isn't always pretty. We know this, and we don't want to know this. ''Rock Star'' is a movie about a copy machine repairman who becomes the lead singer in ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
MovieWeb (B. Alan Orange)
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian (Johnny Donaldson)
This amp goes all the way up to... 7. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at The Massachusetts Daily Collegian (Johnny Donaldson)
The Popkorn Junkie
SPLICEDwire (Rob Blackwelder)
One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
The Movie Mom (Nell Minow)
Hollywood Report Card (Ross Anthony)
The UK Critic (Ian Waldron-Mantgani)
El Criticon (Antonio Méndez Casanova)
cinEncanto (Pablo del Moral)
ShowBIZ Data (--)
New York Times (A.O. Scott)
Has enough wit and insight to make it worth watching. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at New York Times (A.O. Scott)
RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) (Tom Grealis)
Forget the storyline, just laugh (and cringe) at the period. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) (Tom Grealis)
Jacksonville Film Journal (Shay Casey)
Most of the opening scenes are a lot of fun. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Jacksonville Film Journal (Shay Casey)
Washington Post (Rita Kempley)
It's fresh and funny while Chris is still struggling with his detractors. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Washington Post (Rita Kempley)
Moviola (Jorge G. Avila Andrade)
Xi-online (Edward van der Lugt)
Boxoffice Magazine
Cineclub-Filmkritik
Eigentlich waren wir ja alle froh als die 80er vorbei waren. Frauen durften wieder BHs tragen und Männer konnten wieder Hosen tragen, die nicht aussahen wie Leggins. Doch kaum sind wir im neuen Jahrtausend, werden wir mit 80er-Revival-Filmen bedacht, ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Cineclub-Filmkritik
Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Summons every cliche of the rock world and then clings to the hoary scenarios with the fiercest gravity. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Fantastica Daily (Mervius)
There's no bite. And bite is pretty much the first ingredient that should be included in a movie about heavy metal, don't you think? ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Fantastica Daily (Mervius)
Globe and Mail (Rick Groen)
Never so awful that it warps into campy hilarity, nor is it ever so good that it threatens to become even remotely worthy. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Globe and Mail (Rick Groen)
New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
It's sweet but not the least bit plausible that any kid in the mid-'80s would be surprised that along with rock 'n' roll come sex and drugs. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
Lobo Howls (Judith Wolfe)
Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)
It is a nonstop cliche. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)
TV Guide (Ken Fox)
Herek does capture the rush and crush of a stadium concert, and the music (more Leppard than Priest) isn't half bad -- in a disposable, arena-rock sort of way. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at TV Guide (Ken Fox)
Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Stephen Herek's Rock Star, based loosely on the shenanigans surrounding the change in lead singers for the band Judas Priest, plays like a modern-day fairy tale. Unfortunately, as in many fables, the characters are less clearly delineated than their moral ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
DVD Talk (Jason Bovberg)
Jigsaw Lounge (Neil Young)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Rock Star sinks into a morass of melodrama. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Cinema in Focus (Denny Wayman and Hal Conklin)
Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Like the type of music it celebrates, Rock Star is just a lot of posing, adding up to very little. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
New Times (L.A.) (Robert Wilonsky)
Rock Star takes itself so seriously it becomes full-on parody -- "This Is Spinal Tap" as a sanctimonious cautionary tale. And how rock 'n' roll is ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at New Times (L.A.) (Robert Wilonsky)
Mark Reviews Movies (Mark Dujsik)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Sean Axmaker)
Rock Star roars to life with a promise of something inspired and inventive whenever Wahlberg leaps onstage. Offstage, however, even he can't breathe life into this same old song. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Sean Axmaker)
Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Anyone who has played air guitar at some point in his/her life may find something in this film that will pluck a heartstring or two. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Chicago Tribune (Mark Caro)
The movie can't quite embrace its characters or their scene; Wahlberg even cracks a joke over the end credits that heralds the late-'80s ascendance of hip-hop, which, of course, spawned Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Chicago Tribune (Mark Caro)
Portland Oregonian (Kim Morgan)
Somewhere along the way, Stephen Herek's Rock Star decided to become a dippy, cliche-ridden drama and, worse, an odd indictment of metal music. Joy. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Portland Oregonian (Kim Morgan)
Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)
Condemns the rock lifestyle as empty and unrewarding, but glorifies it with a world of fame, debauchery, freedom, and drugs. Guilty pleasure for adults, dangerous for teens. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Film Values/Family Values (H. Arthur Taussig)
eFilmCritic.com (The Grinch)
Film Threat (Heather Wadowski)
Despite its flaws, screenwriters Callie Khouri and John Stockwell still manage to save Rock Star by writing a semi-entertaining script. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Film Threat (Heather Wadowski)
TV Guide's Movie Guide (Ken Fox)
As his star rises, the film slides completely into cliché. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (Ken Fox)
DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
...an earnest effort to be satiric...a paint-by-the-numbers affair rather than a genuine work of art...a snapshot of a modern rock singer rather than a telling portrait. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at DVDTown.com (John J. Puccio)
Variety (Robert Koehler)
Feels particularly like old news after the risks of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle were laid out for the previously uninformed in last year's "Almost ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Variety (Robert Koehler)
USA Today (Claudia Puig)
When it's not aspiring, unsuccessfully, to satirize the world of metallica, Rock Star veers into even drearier territory and becomes a head-banging, sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll version of "A Star Is ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at USA Today (Claudia Puig)
Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)
Rock Star neither touches a raw nerve nor garners any resonance as a period piece. You'd be better off renting "This is Spinal ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)
Chicago Reader (Staff (Not credited))
The music could have been better in this spineless drama, which has several angles but no perspective. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Chicago Reader (Staff (Not credited))
Xiibaro Productions (David Perry)
That Cow (Andrew Bradford)
Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies (Mr. Cranky)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Launches the fall season with a crashing thud. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Can't disguise the bogus core of the script. ...read the complete Rock Star movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
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