Leslie Felperin 

Super Duper Alice Cooper review – ‘competent but underwhelming’

Elton John, Iggy Pop and other rock stars pay homage in this so-so bio-doc about the notorious rocker, writes Leslie Felperin
  
  

2012 Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival - Day 3
Snake-draped charisma … Alice Cooper. Photograph: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images Photograph: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

This competent but underwhelming portrait of the 70s/80s rock star sticks to the usual wave-graph structure of a thousand other rock bio-docs: the subject starts from humble origins, rises to the top, declines due to substance abuse and ego issues, and ends up finding fame and happiness at last through sobriety, comeback concerts and managing not to die. All that's missing is the obligatory footage of a Hall of Fame induction. That said, the often snake-draped Cooper has always been a charismatic presence who gives good quote, and even if the music hasn't aged well – bar the big hits like Eighteen and School's Out – the film makes a persuasive case for his influence and appeal. Borrowing from the visual playbook of the Robert Evans-centred doc The Kid Stays in the Picture, there's talking but no heads as effects-tweaked vintage footage unspools, narrated by Cooper himself, plus members of his band, Elton John, Bernie Taupin and Iggy Pop, among others.

 

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