Detroit Rock City (1999)

Like Gene Simmons' blood-soaked tongue gyrations, Detroit Rock City is about as politically correct as a Jerry Springer casting call. But the gross-out humor and violent slapstick works like a charm. Go figure. The tale of four Cleveland kids scrounging for KISS concert tickets is both off-kilter and dead-on from the start.

Lin Shaye (the leathery sun worshipper in Something About Mary) packs a wallop as a maniacal mom who thinks the band members of KISS are the devil's disciples. And Slums of Beverly Hills Lyonne delivers yet another tough and tart performance as a bimbette who prefers disco to Day-Glo. More a rude dude movie than a chick flick, City may offend some, but then, what did you expect?

Though the title is borrowed directly from a KISS song, this movie is really — as the old rock and roll adage goes — about the fans. At least that's what director Adam Rifkin told Entertainment Weekly. The film, set in 1978, follows four teenagers hell-bent on seeing their favorite rock band play live, pulling out all the stops to get into a sold-out Detroit concert. They have their share of adventures along the way, including opposition from Lin Shaye ("Magda" in There's Something About Mary), a chain-smoking, profoundly religious mother who starts a group called M.A.T.M.O.K. — Mothers Against the Music of KISS. Mom must have heard the rumor that "KISS" stood for "Kids in Search of Satan" — she's convinced that the devil will harm her son if he witnesses the rockers' live show.

Sounds like she could really put on a damper on rock and rolling all night, not to mention partying every day. Starring Giuseppe Andrews, James De Bello, Edward Furlong, Sam Huntington, Lin Shaye, Melanie Lynskey Directed by Adam Rifkin Written by Carl V. Dupre Studio New Line Cinema