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 (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-fulfilment, but here and there some loving attention is paid to the details of 1970s teenage life--the haircuts, clothes, and toys the film-makers probably had when they were kids. Edward Furlong (John Connor from Terminator 2, now grown up) as the band's singer 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, Amazon.com:On the DVD: Director Adam Rifkin gives a chaotic but funny commentary about a subject clearly dear to his heart; Gene Simmons is more level-headed but no less fascinating in his own commentary as he talks about his transition from a naive nine-year-old immigrant from Israel to the extravagant showman of Kiss. Hardcore Kiss fans will also appreciate another commentary track in which the other members of the band are interviewed on the telephone by associate producer Tim Sullivan. There's a good "making of" featurette with contributions from all involved. Four deleted scenes show how certain sections were cut for length, and you can also watch the complete "Detroit Rock City" concert footage. Also included are two original music videos: Everclear's cover of "The Boys Are Back in Town", and "Strutter" by The Donnas. The movie's trailer and cast and crew biographies round off a good DVD package. --Mark Walker
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