Before I get on with this review, I must confess that I've never been a fan of the so called cockrock movement. As a teenager in the 80's, I never really got into the musical stylings of bands like Poison and Ratt. This is funny given that I had the ultimate mullet and was constantly mistaken for Kip Winger. Upon seeing trailers for Rock Star, I thought the film looked fun but was surprised when I started hearing negative reactions from the press. I guess these entertainment writers saw a different film than the one I saw, because I thought Rock Star was absolutely entertaining.

Loosely based Tim "Ripper" Owens (he was a salesmen that suddenly found himself the singer of the rock band Judas Priest), Rock Star tells the story of Chris Cole (an energetic Mark Wahlberg), the frontman for a cover band who has aspirations of being a big time rock star. After having a bit of a falling out with his own group, he is propelled to instant stardom when he's tapped to be the new lead singer of his favorite band Steel Dragon. Although he embarks on an exciting lifestyle, he soon realizes that with fame, comes a price.

Rock Star was directed with dynamic gusto by Stephen Herek (Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure), and as was the case with Cameron Crowe's fantastic Almost Famous, he is able to capture the feel of this particular style of music. The concert sequences ring true and the film pulsates with a lively soundtrack. And while this picture will draw comparisons to the superior Almost Famous and This is Spinal Tap, it's still a worthwhile rock n' roll fairy tale chalk full of drama, comedy and some kick-ass heavy metal.

What really grabbed me in this picture was the sincerity of the performances. Wahlberg is completely charismatic in the lead. His lip syncing is flawless and he has the moves down perfectly. What's more, I really found him to be likable in the role. I also really enjoyed Timothy Spall as Steel Dragon's advice giving road manager. And while Jennifer Aniston is nothing but a mere ornament here (think Meg Ryan in The Doors), she does the best with what she's got and I really liked her. Adding to the picture's authenticity, is a supporting cast of actual rockers including The Verve Pipe's Brian Vander Ark, Slaughter's Blas Elias, Dokken's Jeff Pilson, Third Eye Blind's Stephan Jenkins, Black Label Society's Zakk Wylde, and Jason Bonham (son of famed Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham).

Rock Star touches on a lot of obvious themes that come with being a celebrity, but every now then this movie will shock you with an unexpected surprise. And despite showing much of the ugly side of the business, this movie really has a light tone that is both sweet and surprisingly touching.

Rock Star is not a perfect picture. The screenplay certainly has it's flaws particularly where the rushed final act is concerned, but this is a minor quibble. Ultimately, this film is a really fun time, and you don't have to be a fan of the hair band to enjoy it. I'd much rather see Herek attempt movies like this as opposed to the overly sentimental goings on in Mr. Holland's Opus.