''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 ...

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.

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 strin ...

ist named Izzy shows up at his bank office. It is revealed that Jerry was a member of a hard rock/

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 ...

band called Rock Toxin, and the members are planning a one-time-only reunion. Jerry is reluctant, as he prefers suburbia 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

as Jerry "Dagger" Harden *

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 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 ''Head Rush''. By May 10, 2004, ''Head Rush'' was renamed ''Pop Rocks!'' and had signed its two lead actors,

and

. 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