'You gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City!' In the early spring of 1976, the cult glam hard rock band Kiss released their fourth studio album, Destroyer, which later went platinum and marked the heyday of the group. The title track and the first in the album was the song "Detroit Rock City", telling the sad story about a true fan of "Kiss" who went on the road in a car to a concert of his favorite band, and it was based on real events. In the future, the composition “Detroit Rock City” was recognized by many as one of the best in the long history of Kiss. And it was this song that became the inspiration for the authors of the Japanese anime Detroit, City of Metal, which was released for one season in 2008. But this was not the first time that the composition “Detroit Rock City” prompted a peculiar transfer to film. Thus, screenwriter Carl W. Dupre wrote his first screenplay for a feature film, which he titled Detroit the City of Rock, and its release is dated 1999. And unlike the tragic context of the song, the film corresponds to the genre of youth comedy with elements of the road movie.
But the main director of the film “Detroit – City of Rock” was a rather unusual director Adam Rifkin. And the unusualness of it is that it can alternate absolutely fierce thrash with adequate cinema. For example, Rifkin’s filmography lists the idiotic buffoonade “Mad” (1992), the second-rate slasher “Psychopathic Policeman 2” (1993) and the nauseating film almanac with the brain-corrosive black humor “Chillerama” (2011). And all of them starred the real porn actresses, this is generally some kind of business card of Adam Rifkin. Meanwhile, this director directed a comedy "road movie" starring Charlie Sheen "The Chase" (1994), and as a screenwriter helped Gore Verbinski to shoot the film "Mouse Hunt" (1997). New Line Cinema has given a $34 million budget to direct Detroit City of Rock. Apparently, a good result of Rifkin’s similar genre film “The Chase” also influenced the choice and trust of the famous film studio. And the fact that the music of the cult band plays an important role in the film also added confidence that Detroit is the city of rock is a good investment.
But, alas, the box office of the film showed a depressing amount of more than 4 million dollars. And this despite the fact that the main role was given to the 22-year-old at the time, Edward Furlong, who had already managed to star in the cult Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and American History X (1998). And that, too, could have contributed to the fact that 'Detroit City of Rock' was supposed to attract audiences. Furlong plays high school student Hawk, who has three bosom friends - Lex (Guseppe Andrews), Trip (James DeBello) and Jam (Sam Huntington). And all of them are fans of the band “Kiss”, and when they have the cherished tickets to the concert of idols, then nothing and no one can stop them. But the thing is that from the very beginning they are haunted by unexpected obstacles and adventures, which are sometimes quite dangerous. However, this trip will be remembered by them forever, because someone will lose their virginity, someone will realize their first love, someone will try to free themselves from the guardianship of an overly religious mother. But the main thing will remain with them - and this is their friendship and inexhaustible craving for rock music.
“Detroit – the city of rock” is a film that is literally focused on young audiences, because, as already mentioned, it is replete with adventures that probably all teenagers want to experience. Some of these scenes will be really funny, some will be repulsed by their "sort" humor, and some will be the most rebellious. It's such a rattling mix that can remind you of "American Pie" (1999) and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" (2001). And, by the way, one of the heroes of “Detroit – the city of rock” Trip, both externally and in habits, will strongly resemble the famous Jay from the movie universe from Kevin Smith. And in “American Pie”, a small role was given to Natasha Lyonne, who played in “Detroit – the city of rock”, and in addition to her, you can recognize Melanie Lynskey and Emmanuel Shriki. And these actresses still have a more successful career than the quartet of guys who played the main roles in the film by Adam Rifkin. And then immediately attracts the attention of Lin Shay, who is now known by many as the Ambassador of the horror tetralogy "Astral". And she's playing a religious mommy, and I have to say, her scenes are very vivid. And then there is Ron Jeremy, who often appears at Adam Rifkin, as, incidentally, Lin Shay. And this again reminds us of Rifkin’s “dot” because Jeremy was a famous porn actor.
Despite the fact that “Detroit – the city of rock” failed at the box office in his circle, it gained a cult status, especially for young people and fans of the group “Kiss”. The film even now looks dashing and dynamic, rebellious and windy. It contrasts youth progressiveness with archaic intellectual culture. Some scenes can be remembered for a long time and even sometimes will come up in memories when the next youth comedy comes out, because scenes from Detroit City of Rock will be used as a visual example. And Detroit City of Rock will be one of the last films for Edward Furlong before he goes free-floating on low-budget thrash.
8 out of 10