Rent The Runaways (2010)

True account of Joan Jett - The Runaways review by JD

This biography of Joan Jett is an insight into rock and roll in the 70's. Naive teenagers with modest talent but a huge amount of energy burst into the music scene and get damaged in the process, some more than others. Very sad as it is a true story. I didn't enjoy it that much, I think it would appeal to teenagers, particularly those of a rebellious nature.

Watchable rock bio-pic - The Runaways review by PV

The film is watchable, but for a UK audience there is one major flaw: this band is unknown in the UK and is a really minor band, made significant only by Joan Jett's hit I Love Rock n Roll, and the fact it's an early girl rock group. That worthiness of a ferminist story does tend to spoil things. Films like Control (about Joy Division) or Sex n Drugs n Rock n Roll about Ian Dury mean much much more to a British audience.

However, it's still entertaining and I was happy to discover more about Joan Jett's origins. Never heard of Cherie Currie before, and only heard the name of the band not the music (but now know where the Go-gos and the Breeders got their influence from) Mike Shannon as the mad manager Kim is suitably bonkers and pervy, and the scenes in Japan are hilarious. I wonder if Japanese schoolgirls really are like that!