The Leading Man (1996)
I went to this film with very low expectations, based on the presence of Jon Bon Jovi in the cast, but enjoyed it immensely--such is the folly of preconceptions.
Bon Jovi turns out to be a perfectly capable and engaging actor, the plot is delightfully mischievous, the script is both droll and naturalistic, the other actors are
uniformly convincing, and there's a strong emotional resonance at the core of the drama.
Jon Bon Jovi, quondam purveyor of simian rock music, manages to beguile us....
In fact, the one truly familiar face that Duigan has cast belongs to a fellow so famous in such a distinctly noncinematic context that his appearance is an ironic
joke that actually lends credence to his presence... Such is the delicate poise achieved by Bon Jovi in his suprisingly subtle work here that we never can tell if
Robin is earnest or sinister.
I enjoyed the film's intelligent and slightly edgy script, and found Jon Bon Jovi remarkably effective. He manages to convey that dangerous charm which belies a sinister intellect and cold heart at work.
Long-haired rocker Bon Jovi is a revelation in his first leading role, and he plays Grange with confidence, charm, and raw sexuality that suggests that if he ever gives away his singing career he could quite easily establish himself as a credible comic actor in light weight romantic farces.
... the real surprise of The Leading Man is Bon Jovi, who brings an artful charm to the title role. "I've never seen a Stoppard play before," Robin notes breezily at one point, and it's a measure of how well this rocker-turned-actor has meshed with his cinematic company that this line doesn't draw an unintentional audience laugh.
The leads are effective too, with Bon Jovi proving his acting ability in a role in which he's required to be ruthlessly charming and duplicitious.
Rock stars dip into movies with the same attitude they apply to groupie sex--good for a quick thrill, not the long haul. Jon Bon Jovi is an exception. He had an
engaging bit in Moonlight & Valentino in 1995 and damn near steals the upcoming Ed Burns film No Looking Back, in a supporting role. Bon Jovi takes
center stage in TLM, playing Robin Grange, a cocky American movie star out to prove himself as a serious actor on the London stage.... Bon Jovi flashes out the role
with rare poise and magnetism. Most stars from other media want to be loved onscreen and therefore choose sympathetic parts. Robin is a charming prick at times,
but he is a prick nonetheless and that's how Bon Jovi plays him. He lets us see Robin's subtle skill at manipulation... Watching Bon Jovi ease into an acting career is
even more of a kick. He's no Oscar contender yet, but he's no joke either. The kid from New Jersey is now 36 and on his way.
With character that combines Teorama with Strangers on a Train, it's Jon Bon Jovi's show from beginning to end. The title is no exaggeration. And he takes
his shirt off.
Jon Bon Jovi gives an assured, shrewd performance...sexy and sly as a fox.
The Leading Man brings together a diverse cast that works through its very differences. The camera loves Jon Bon Jovi, and we are graced with enough tight close ups to satisfy the fans. The surprise is how good he is in the role of Robin Grange. He brings such complexity and credibility to this manipulative character, as we go along for the ride.
Jon Bon Jovi bids for movie star status in The Leading Man.
Jon Bon Jovi is the movies' newest, hottest leading man.
Rock star Bon Jovi aces the title role of this theatrical release, playing a slyly sexy actor...
Jersey's Jon Bon Jovi struts his considerable stuff in The Leading Man... In Moonlight & Valentino, New Jersey rock idol Jon Bon Jovi proved he was a
natural screen presence. Now in The Leading Man, Bon Jovi shows he can act. Even more impressive, he holds his own among a cast of polished British actors...
It's great fun watching Bon Jovi ooze his charm and get away with his triple-timing. He has a braod smile and economical moves; his manner is never artificial and one
can easily see why all the women are impressed... It is called The Leading Man and the leading man in question has the kind of abs and smile that render such
misgivings inconsequential. And, he can act.
He comes across as conniving, charming, funny, and just enough of a prick to make you drool.
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Rocker Jon Bon Jovi continues the careful building of his film career with The Leading Man, a witty English romantic comedy not likely to attract a large swath of his fans. It is
nonetheless a shrewd artistic choice, one that shows just how easily he can command the screen in unexpected material for him.
On the evidence of this and Moonlight & Valentino, Bon Jovi could have a screen future if he continues to make the right choices. Melding easily with an
experienced cast, and not dominating an essentially ensemble movie, he makes the smarmy Robin a charmer as well as a no-values Lothario.
Rock stars, as a rule, don't make very good movie stars. They're so accustomed to viewing themselves as the hottest thing in the room that they instinctively turn
the tinest moments into extravagant gestures of self-regard. But, Jon Bon Jovi in The Leading Man, proves he's the rare celebrity musician who knows how to
underplay... Bon Jovi, as Robin, ends up seducing everyone in sight, including the audience.