Comment devenir une rock star?

Sweet, lighthearted, punchy and pacy, this is a worthy and hugely enjoyable update on the "Rock Follies" concept that delivers plenty of laughs. I loved it the when it first came out, watched again recently, and I reckon it still stands up as fine, funny satire on the pleasures and pitfalls of the pursuit of pop success. The scripts are clever and witty, the cast is great, the photography, editing, direction and production design are distinctive and add greatly to the impact of the show - I especially love the montage of the band going hog-wild spending their record company advance, which is overlaid with a counter graphic that adds up how much money they're wasting. The original songs are pretty good, and of course there's the added attraction some very funny cameo appearances by real rock stars and music industry faces like Chrissie Hynde and Noel Gallagher. Some viewers might have a little trouble negotiating the Glasgow accents (myself, I could listen to them all night) but if that's not a problem for you then I reckon you're probably going to love this series. A wee gem.

Gerry Butler is truly hilarious and highly entertaining playing the stuck-on-himself rock star in Guide to Becoming a Rock Star, and a great example of 28-year-old Gerry's talent and star presence. However, note that he is only in episodes 2, 3 & 4 for a grand total of 10 minutes screen time. But if you are a die-hard Butler fan as I am, it is well worth it, even if you aren't a music business fan. Also, the series itself is very funny. Gerry's singing in this series had to be dubbed - it doesn't sound like his voice at all and looks dubbed. I can't find a credit online for who did his singing, or one that states it is in fact his voice.

If you've never come across this gem, think a Scottish version of "The Commitments", but less gritty.

This is a very funny series that is knowing in a self-deprecating way. What a pity it was so short and has been aired so few times; at least in Australia, where I saw it.

The original music by Guy Pratt is catchy with lyrics that partner well with the wise-cracking script.

Ciarán McMenamin is winning and believable as Jez. He and Simone Lahbib (Fiona) create some real chemistry.

Genuinely entertaining!

Watch this for no other reason than the glorious Simone Lahbib. A superb actress who, amazingly after this fun bit of fluff, went on to great acclaim and notoriety as the indomitable Helen Stewart on "Bad Girls," a landmark series and performance. Lahbib has the kind of smoldering sensual self-awareness and knowledge of just what effect it has on you as those great English actresses Francesca Annis or Helen Mirren, and she possesses the authority of the latter as well. (Which is saying a lot, since she's one of the best ever.) She should've broken out into a major career after BG, but seems stuck in TV genre cop/det/law shows. Alas. But, damn, I'd watch her in anything.

A YOUNG PERSONS GUIDE TO BECOMING A ROCK STAR (1998)---- This TVseries (6 thirty minute episodes) reminds me of the recent "Almost Famous" about the trails and tribulations of finding the right mix of performers and material to hit it big in the rock field. The price of fame and the characters who become so in love with themselves they forget they are humans, is touched on and explored.

The lead - Ciaran McMenamin - Jez, is a callow youth who seems to be sleepwalking through much of the film. He does manage to get some energy in a few scenes. One wonders if the director purposely had him play the scenes this way or that was all she could get out of him.

The strange buddy, with cornrow hair and a weak stomach, is just tedious. The girls are okay, and try to liven things up.

Gerry Butler, as Marty Claymore, the rocker from hell, is perfect. Comedy is hard to do well, but Gerry is flawless as an idiot so completely gone on himself he doesn't even know he is ridiculous. I love the scene in the agents office where he can hardly talk he is so traumatized because he doesn't have a private loo on the airplane. And no avocados, dammit!! "No one loves me." Priceless!! I quite enjoyed this little series. A lot was filmed in Dunbarton,Scotland with a mostly Scottish cast. The music was tolerable and some quite good. And the over-the-top characterizations of 'types' in the rock music business keeps this film perking along nicely.

Eight years ago, Gerard Butler had hardly a wrinkle in his face and was quite thin. Already could hold the screen and you rarely look away from him. Whatever "it" is - he had it!! 7/10