Although Renee Zellwegger is a great actress in later films her presence here is merely serviceable. The real problem lies in the concept of remaking a teen exploitation film. The original film might have a charm for its naive cheesiness that now looks camp and amusing. To remake such a product is a poor premise. The film looked like it wished it were Hairspray by John Waters (who knows how to make material that refenences the original materials without looking like a wannabe). It also had annoyingly poor art direction and script writing. The music was fairly good but stories like this are more successful in films like Grace of My Heart. For a good time got to Blackboard Jungle and Jailhouse Rock. This kind of film is a product of its' time and not likely to be successfully translated into a nostalgia vehicle.
Review of Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
(1994 TV Movie)
Remakes of grade C exploitation films not a success
1 March 2002