Emmanuelle Chriqui Movie:

Editorial Review:
It's hard to call Detroit Rock City a "coming of age" movie--since it's hard to argue that any of the characters do any genuine growing up. But even though it's about four young metalheads trying to get to a KISS concert, the movie actually has more in common with sincere portraits of adolescence than it does with raucous teen comedies. The four heroes are members of a teen metal band called Mystery (the s is written in the same font as the letters of KISS, lest anyone mistake their source of inspiration). After the drummer's religiously zealous mother burns their tickets to a long-awaited concert in nearby Detroit, the boys go anyway and try to get tickets through theft, skullduggery, and entering a male stripper contest. The jokes are broad and the movie culminates in an orgy of male adolescent wish-fulfillment, but here and there some loving attention is paid to the details of 1970s teenage life--the haircuts, clothes, and toys the filmmakers probably had when they were kids. Edward Furlong, as the band's singer, is his usual scruffy self and exudes his particular lopsided charm; the rest of the cast play their parts with similar high spirits. Though Detroit Rock City was probably meant to be a no-holds-barred comedy in the vein of American Pie, the end result is curiously wistful; no one's going to mistake it for The Last Picture Show, but something sincere and elegiac lurks in those bang-covered eyes. --Bret Fetzer

Detroit Rock City [Region 2] Reviews:
Detroit Rocks City Rocks!
2009-12-15 - I grew up in the 70's. I was a KISS fan and saw them 4 times back then. This movie is an unbelievable re-creation of that time period. It was like watching my own life through the window of a time capsule. I just couldn't believe it! I was waiting to see myself pop up on the screen. Everything in this movie portrays this time period JUST like it was. It's like somebody was actually taking the film back then. The clothes, the teenage attitudes, the parental attitudes,the stereo types (freaks, jocks, disco freaks, nerds, punkers, new wavers and more) The relationship between the main characters and their parents was especially realistic. As was the back round music which seemed to feature every other band that was popular between 1977 and 1980. The featured band "KISS" was no exception! And funny! I have seen many teen age comedies and this one surely ranks with the best of them. I couldn't stop laughing! Even my 71 year old father thought the movie was hilarious and well made. He would know too because when I was growing up back then he was the one doing the parenting. He too was intrigued. He just couldn't stop watching. The attitude and feel of this movie says nothing BUT the late 70's. If you grew up back then and want to see that time period once more then this movie is a must! Wither you were a KISS fan or not doesn't matter. This movie portrays that time period better than any other movie ever made! Even though it was actually made 20 years later one thing is obvious......the producers of it actually experienced it. A MUST for ANY 70's fan!!!

A lot of stuff in one
2009-09-14 - It's a nostalgia film for people who grew up then, it's a coming of age film for others, it's a KISS movie for some, it's a comedy for many, it's a drama for many others, it's a bunch of stuff in one film. The story is of a group of teenagers planning on going to see a KISS concert, but then something happens to the tickets. The film is about the adventure to seeing a KISS concert. It's like a realistic version of The Lord of the Rings or The Wizard of Oz. The characters go on a journey, and in this case, it's to see a KISS concert.

What's interesting is that all of the ideas on how to get to a KISS concert were ideas that were done. You could think of the craziest story on how someone got a KISS ticket, it probably happened. That's how much people wanted to see KISS. This film shows a lot more than just how big KISS were. The films heart is not just in KISS, but it's in ROCK MUSIC ITSELF! The incidental music used is a ton of classic rock tunes from the seventies. The one disappointment in that was only to the director, which he made a comment on.

The DVD has so many special features, you wouldn't believe that a single disc could be so jam packed. An extended version of one of the scenes, with alternate camera angles, how to play "Rock and Roll All Night," and the music video for a Donnas cover version of "Strutter" (one of the highlighting points for me). It includes a couple of documentaries on the film, and a lot more special features. However, the most special feature is the movie itself. This film is what KISS are all about. If you don't understand KISS, this is the real way to understand KISS. I haven't even had a chance to see them live yet, but this film really shows the way that fans felt about KISS, and these were fans who had never seen them live.

Overall, this movie is amazing, and although it seems more like a nostalgia film or a film as part of a culture (the KISS culture), it's a great film in general.

Sam Huntington
2009-08-04 - Sam Huntington is the main reason I even purchased this movie. I knew nothing about it before hand, but I ended up ABSOLUTELY loving this movie. You don't have to like the band KISS to watch and/or enjoy it. It's a crazy movie. :D

Awesome Dude
2009-03-27 - If you grew up in the 70's and liked rock music....this movie is all you!!! It mirrors the trials and tribulations of growing up as a wanna be rocker in the 70's. Love this movie!

2.5 stars out of 4
2008-12-27 - The Bottom Line:

A fairly forgettable comedy, Detroit Rock City will most likely appeal to fans of KISS or 17 year-old boys; it's not a bad film, but if you're not in its target demographic you have little reason to see it.