30 Second Bottom Line: The lead singer in a tribute rock band finds himself fronting the group that he idolizes. He learns that there are times when a dream come true has an ugly side.

Story Line: Chris Coles (Mark Wahlberg) is an office machine repairman by day and a singer at night. This is the 1980's and he's the lead vocalist in a tribute rock band, Blood Pollution, which he distinguishes from a cover band. A cover band plays other music in addition to those numbers recorded by the band they emulate, including original compositions. A tribute band limits their tunes to only those played by the famous band-in this case the band Steel Dragon. Not only does Chris' group perform the numbers but they do them exactly as the recorded version, right down to the moan that is 25.5 seconds long perfectly on key. Chris even insists they interject the on-stage banter of Steel Dragon.

This passion for perfection results in Chris being kicked out of the group, and with him goes his long time girlfriend and the band's manager, Emily (Jennifer Aniston). When the lead vocalist in Steel Dragon goes off the deep end and they are looking for a replacement, Chris gets a call and before you know it, he's in the group. Since they are a Brit band, Chris is now renamed Izzy. The strangest thing about this is that it's based upon the true story of Tim "Ripper" Owens, who filled the black leather boots of Rob Halford in Judas Priest.

Before long Chris has gone from sharing a bathroom at home in Pittsburgh to living the high life on the road and staying in the best hotels. But there's a question he must ask himself -is he happier now that he's famous or before when he was living in Pittsburgh playing the local bars?

Tell Me More About It: Chris and Emily quickly learn that the rules of living on the road are much stranger than the ones set down by his parents at home. Wives and significant others can travel with the band but not on the bus. They follow in a limo, while a few boffo bimbos are invited on board the bus. Emily grows tired of this and takes off for Seattle, telling Chris that she'll meet him there when the band comes through on tour. Chris is happy in his role but he wants to grow artistically, so he comes up with artwork for an album and a few new songs. His first wake up call is when he's told that Mats and another band member write all the songs. They have a formula that works to sell records and fill stadiums that they don't want to fiddle with.

Wahlberg is quite good in the film and we should not be surprised, since at one time he was a rapper called Marky Mark. Jennifer Aniston is the best I've seen her and if the role had been written better, she might have approached what Kate Hudson did in Almost Famous. Timothy Spall is right on with his portrayal of celebrity gone wrong. He provides insight into how celebrities can let success change their lives, not necessarily for the better (e.g. Ben Affleck, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey).

Rock Star has the general feel of Almost Famous. One part of me liked it better, even though it's not nearly as good a film. RS does not develop the characters to the same degree as AF and the ending is very much in the Hollywood mold of everything working out fine. The critics loved AF and the public seemed to be thrilled with Kate Hudson (who got an Academy Award nomination). Yet for the cost of making that film, it's modest business at the box office was well below expectations and from my viewpoint, what it deserved.

I've never been into rock music but I liked what I heard here. We see quite a bit of life on the road that is less than flattering not just to the people in the band, but the decadence of how many of us might live when we are idolized and have lots of money. Women are selected by the road manager for hotel "p---- passes" based upon their looks and apparent willingness to perform oral, group or whatever sex the boys in the band desire.

I can see taking a bite of that apple for possibly a few months, but for it to become a lifestyle would only make me long for periodic road trips with plenty of time at home in between.

When Chris arrives in Seattle, where he's to see Emily, he doesn't know where he is, due to his drug-induced haze and a heavy travel schedule. He's surprised to see Emily as he staggers out of his hotel suite, and bimbos are lined up to "service" him. Chris soon starts to awaken to the fact that something needs to change. At times we can get on a path that leads where we thought we wanted to go, only to realize when we are deep in the forest that it's time to do something else, somewhere else. But what if you can only see the trees around you and no way out, and you decide to stay there forever? That's a scary thought.

Chris "Izzy" Coles: Mark Wahlberg	Emily: Jennifer Aniston
Mats: Timothy Spall	Director: Stephen Herek

Mark Wahlberg: Planet of the Apes	Jennifer Aniston: Office Space
Timothy Spall: Chicken Run	Stephen Herek: Holy Man