''Pop Rocks'' is a 2004 American
television film
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
starring
Gary Cole
Gary Michael Cole (born September 20, 1956) is an American television, film and voice actor. Cole began his professional acting career on stage at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. On television, he has had starring roles in the T ...
and
Sherilyn Fenn
Sherilyn Fenn (born Sheryl Ann Fenn; February 1, 1965) is an American actress and author. She came to attention for her performance as Audrey Horne on the television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991, 2017) for which she was nominated for a Go ...
that aired on
ABC Family
The American cable television, cable and satellite television network that is now known as Freeform (TV channel), Freeform was originally launched as the CBN Satellite Service on April 29, 1977, and has gone through several different owners (and s ...
.
Plot
Bank
loan officer Loan officers evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of loan applications for people and businesses.
Most loan officers are employed by commercial banks, credit unions, mortgage companies, and related financial institutions. Mortgage loan offi ...
Jerry Harden has his life turned upside down when a scruffy-looking
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
ist named Izzy shows up at his bank office. It is revealed that Jerry was a member of a
hard rock
Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...
/
glam metal
Glam metal (also known as hair metal or pop metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal that features pop-influenced hooks and guitar riffs, upbeat rock anthems, and slow power ballads. It borrows heavily from the fashion and image of 1970s glam r ...
band called Rock Toxin, and the members are planning a one-time-only reunion. Jerry is reluctant, as he prefers
suburb
A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...
ia to the wild rock lifestyle he left behind, but is forced to reconsider when he finds that he does not have enough money to send his 17-year-old daughter Olivia to college.
[
Since Jerry has not told his wife Allison about being in the band, he embarks upon living a hectic double life: nerdish pillar of society by day and heavily-made-up rock singer by night. Since the group Rock Toxin wore heavy "]Kiss
A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...
"-like makeup he does not think anyone will ever find out about his alternative persona, but this is when his troubles truly begin. Jerry fights to keep his past hidden while taking part in the concert which all the town will be attending. But only the truth can save his family if it is not too late.[
]
Cast
* Gary Cole
Gary Michael Cole (born September 20, 1956) is an American television, film and voice actor. Cole began his professional acting career on stage at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. On television, he has had starring roles in the T ...
as Jerry "Dagger" Harden
* Sherilyn Fenn
Sherilyn Fenn (born Sheryl Ann Fenn; February 1, 1965) is an American actress and author. She came to attention for her performance as Audrey Horne on the television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991, 2017) for which she was nominated for a Go ...
as Allison Harden[
* ]David Jensen
David Allan "Kid" Jensen (born 4 July 1950) is a Canadian-born British radio DJ and television presenter. Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Jensen began as a radio DJ on Radio Luxembourg. Jensen was later a broadcaster for the BBC from 1976 ...
as Izzy
* Douglas M. Griffin as Stu
* Dane Hereford as Ramone
* Asher Book
Asher Monroe Book (born September 18, 1988), known professionally as Asher Monroe, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actor. In 2006, after starring in an extensive run of national tours including ''The Sound of Music'', ''Oliver!'', ...
as Liam Harden
* Johanna Braddy
Johanna Elizabeth Braddy (born August 30, 1987) is an American actress. She played the leading role in the 2009 horror film ''The Grudge 3'', and has appeared in '' Hurt'' (2009), ''Easy A'' (2010), ''Paranormal Activity 3'' (2011), and '' The Lev ...
as Olivia Harden
* Joe Inscoe as Carl Hunter
* Shannon Eubanks as Helen Hunter
* Wilbur Fitzgerald as Donaldson[
* ]McKinley Freeman McKinley Freeman (born June 9, 1973) is an American actor and producer. He has appeared in films and on television series, including the starring role of Derek Roman in the drama series '' Hit the Floor'', portraying the role of Dominic in the OWN's ...
as the TV Host
Production
With the death of ABC Family programming executive Linda Mancuso in December 2003, Disney Channel original programming leaders, executive vice president of original programming and production Gary Marsh
Gary Marsh was President and Chief Creative Officer for Disney Branded Television, where he used to develop and produce Disney Channel Original Series, Disney Channel Original Movies and Disney Junior Series (formerly Playhouse Disney). He also o ...
and original movies vice president Michael Healy took charge over ABC Family's original movies unit in early 2004. They move away from the planned romantic comedies to green light two telefilms, ''Crimes of Fashion
''Crimes of Fashion'' is a 2004 American crime comedy television film directed by Stuart Gillard. The film stars Kaley Cuoco, Dominic Chianese, and Megan Fox, and premiered on ABC Family on July 25, 2004.
Premise
Brooke, a plain but creative and ...
'' and ''Head Rush''. By May 10, 2004, ''Head Rush'' was renamed ''Pop Rocks!'' and had signed its two lead actors, Gary Cole
Gary Michael Cole (born September 20, 1956) is an American television, film and voice actor. Cole began his professional acting career on stage at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company in 1985. On television, he has had starring roles in the T ...
and Sherilyn Fenn
Sherilyn Fenn (born Sheryl Ann Fenn; February 1, 1965) is an American actress and author. She came to attention for her performance as Audrey Horne on the television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991, 2017) for which she was nominated for a Go ...
. Patricia Clifford was signed on as executive producer and Ron Lagomarsino as director. The movie was filmed in New Orleans.[
]
Reception
Reviewer Phil Gallo of ''Variety'' considered the film to have potential but fell "flat" in being humorless and silly.[
]
References
External links
*
{{ABC Family Original Movies
2004 television films
2004 films
ABC Family original films
2004 comedy films
American comedy television films
Films directed by Ron Lagomarsino
2000s English-language films
2000s American films