Tom Cruise has played a lot of varied roles over his career, but something about his latest one is capturing a lot of buzz in the movie world, and quite a bit of it is good.

As Stacee Jaxx, an “80s rock god who is an amalgamation of Axl Rose and Stephen Tyler, Cruise is stealing the show for a lot of critics, even though his story isn’t the central one in the film. The movie–which is based on the hugely successful 2009 musical–focuses on two young kids trying to make it in the big city who ultimately fall in love–a tale as old as time. But those who have seen the film are giving Tom Cruise praise for breathing life into a storyline that’s been done a million times before, saying he carries the tale and leaves the audience wanting more every time he’s offscreen.

A karaoke musical in which almost everybody bursts into FM anthems at the drop of a hat….by rights “Rock of Ages” shouldn’t come off as a one-man show. But it’s an uneven fight, and you might find yourself itching for the fast-forward button whenever Cruise is off-screen, writes CNN’s Tom Charity.

Cruise even sings in the film, although that’s nothing new for the actor; he lent his pipes to characters in “Top Gun” and “Magnolia”, as well. But this role is a bit different, as it requires Cruise to create an entire persona around the voice. And while several think he did an admirable job, others are having a difficult time seeing past his action-man persona….and the “musical” aspect of the film.