The early days of riot grrrl

Before The Runaways, all-girl bands were nothing more than a gimmick. Though The Runaways themselves were manufactured to an extent, what set them apart was their legitimate musicianship, starting as teen wannabes but ultimately becoming rock legends.

“The Runaways” is the story of a young Joan Jett (Stewart) and Cherie Currie (Fanning) and their meeting through producer Kim Fowley (Shannon), who put together The Runaways, molding and marketing the band and even writing the group’s first hit “Cherry Bomb” on the spot. 

The film follows the band’s early days of practicing and touring but goes into little detail on the backgrounds of the band members, save for Currie, whose troubled family life is revealed in brief glimpses. Much of the film plays out like a montage of music videos, and there is almost no character development or scenes with extended plot-driving dialogue.

The predictable ingredients for a rock ‘n’ roll flick are all there: drug addiction, sex and ego, which combine to tear the band apart. The film is based on Currie’s autobiography, so her troubles rise to the forefront. Jett is a major player, but beyond her obsession to succeed musically and lead her band, we learn very little about her personally.

Stewart and Fanning give some life to characters who would otherwise be very one-dimensional. But it is Shannon’s astounding performance that gives the film a vibrancy that might otherwise be sorely lacking. He is truly a gifted actor (see: “Revolutionary Road”) and his unrelenting approach to playing Fowley adds much-needed humor and authenticity to the film.

This is the story of a band’s rise to rock stardom, the exploitation of teenage sexuality, the temptations of life on the road and the consequences for succumbing. Jett made it through and continues to play and tour. Currie was not so fortunate.