Film

Detroit Rock City (1999)

Director: Adam Rifkin

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

It's 1978 and middle America is split in twain by disco fever and Kiss mania. Furlong (the cool one), Andrews (big lug), DeBello (resident pothead), and Huntington (shy boy) knock out painful Kiss covers in the garage and throb with excitement over their tickets for their heroes' forthcoming gig in Chicago. Until, that is, Huntington's godfearing parent consigns said priceless items to the flames. The day looks lost until they win four top seats in a radio competition. Given that it's a comedy aimed at adolescent males of all ages, we get gags involving drugged pizza and volcanic vomiting. Thankfully, though, the movie never relies on the big gross out, opting instead for an American Graffiti-style rites of passage, in which our callow youths learn about love, sex and how not to pass for a roadie. This is a bit undercooked, though enjoyable none the less, stretching to give each of its central quartet enough to do, but never patronising their cause. Only when Kiss themselves pop up in the final reel does the heart sink, but they're put through their paces briskly enough.

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