For what it's worth, "Rock Star" is an enjoyable fantasy yarn about an aspiring musician who makes it to the big time, only to realize that it's not all about sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll. Sure, the concept is surely not fresh, and the lack of purpose that plagues the movie keeps it from truly soaring. But despite its flaws, it manages to entertain through its bright cast, wonderful execution, and delightful sense of humor.

Carrying the lightweight story on his shoulders like a guitar case full of memories is young Chris Cole (Mark Wahlberg), a twenty-something grunge rocker who still lives with his parents, and gets his jollies by recreating the sense of excitement an audience gets from attending a Steel Dragon concert. Insisting that his band is a "tribute band" rather than a cover band, Chris idolizes the band, particularly the lead singer, Bobby Beers, whom he looks, sounds, and acts like on stage.

With the support of his mother and father, as well as his longtime girlfriend Emily (Jennifer Aniston), Chris finds comfort in his fanaticism, perhaps too much comfort. His drive to recreate each song specifically and correctly makes him overbearing in the eyes of his band members, who, after an on-stage brawl, decide it's time for Chris to walk.

In any other movie, this would be the complete story, ending with reflections by each of the characters on how their experiences together shaped the rest of their lives. But in the world of "Rock Star," this is only the beginning. Just when Chris begins to give up his dreams, he gets a call from none other than Kirk Cuddy, one of Steel Dragon's guitarists, offering him a chance to audition as the new lead singer. He heartily accepts, flies out with Emily to meet the band and begins to get into the life of a rock star, all the while paying little notice to his past life, which slips away more and more each day.

This cautionary turn of events that begin to cloud the jubilance of Chris's lifestyle is a well-known tactic used by many other films that bear the routine grass-isn't-always-greener-on-the-other-side warning. The film shows us both the glamour and the depression of this lifestyle, from the excessive drinking and parties where Chris is surrounded by adoring female fans, to a scene in which Emily is told by the wife of another band member that since Chris is a rock star, "the normal rules don't apply." At times, however, I got the feeling that the movie is warning against the rock-and-roll way of life it has been embracing all along.

So what is the film's position? Neither, really; its inability to take a stand for or against this lifestyle is bothersome only if you allow it to be. If you can put this inconsistency aside, you'll find that there's a whole lot of fun to be had with the movie. Some impressive work is done in creating a fictional 80's rock band, complete with long, tossed hair and mascara during performances, screaming guitars and singing that resembles a screeching tire. It may not be as authentic a recreation as, say, the era of "Almost Famous," but it gets the job done with fashionable results.

Mark Wahlberg has always been a versatile actor, and proves his worth with this role. As Chris, he manages to convincingly segue from a controlling perfectionist obsessed with precisely recreating Steel Dragon, to a legend at the top of his game and the bottom of his personal life. It's nothing stellar, but he carries it so well, with all the brazen charm of an 80's rock idol/sex symbol. Of the band members, Timothy Spall's character is the most memorable, a humorous mix of wit and longing for the stability of his past. Jennifer Aniston practically steals every scene she walks through, crossing moments of real emotion with some of the film's funniest one-liners. At one point, a groupie begins talking about G-strings gaining more respect for exotic dancers, to which Aniston replies, "Nothing says 'respect' like cramming a strip of Lycra right up your a--."

There's an air of familiarity that hangs over the movie that is hard to ignore, but what keeps it from becoming too formulaic are its wonderful cast, its comedic wit, and its interesting premise. There's nothing totally hardcore about it, but it hardly matters, since we already know this is going to be an uplifting movie rather than a downbeat adventure of self-discovery. As a cautionary fantasy, "Rock Star" is too routine to remain with one for long, but while you're there, it's quite an experience.

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