Prey for Rock and Roll

Though the film runs about 20 minutes too long and becomes a tad melodramatic towards the end, Prey for Rock and Roll is nonetheless a fairly enjoyable look at the trials and tribulations of an all-girl punk band. Gina Gershon stars as Jacki, the lead singer for said band – which includes guitarist Faith (Lori Petty), bassist Tracy (Drea De Matteo), and drummer Sally (Shelly Cole). Jacki’s been at it for years – she’s about to hit 40 – and though she’s never experienced any real success, she and her band keep plugging away. Prey for Rock and Roll is one of those follow-your-dreams kind of movies, the sort where we watch characters overcome obstacles to succeed in the end. But despite the cliched structure, the movie remains watchable because these aren’t the type of conventional characters that one might expect out of a flick like this. These are people who’ve been struggling for years to make it, and as a result, they’re jaded and tough. And they’re surrounded by people that aren’t necessarily nice, including the abusive boyfriend of one of the characters, giving the movie a certain sense of realism. Oh, and the music’s not bad either.

**1/2 out of ****