A journey through Joan Jett's life and career, from her early years as founder of 'The Runaways' and first collaborations with Kenny Laguna to her status as rock icon.
There's also little exploration of Jett's sexuality nor the more salacious parts of her drug addictions that she ultimately came out the other side of intact (if there were any scars, emotionally or physically, we don't learn about them).
The film is a disappointment, and has limited value for viewers hoping to experience (or relive) the years in which Jett proved a woman could rock as hard as the boys.
From Jett's groundbreaking recordings with the Runaways to how she defied a narrow-minded media establishment, "Bad Reputation" is a case study in how a musician stays relevant.
The life and career of the groundbreaking rocker Joan Jett gets the dreary documentary treatment as the director Kevin Kerslake marches obediently through her career...with nothing less than wide-eyed adoration.
The big treat is seeing Jett herself talk and watching her still-strong bond with producer and best friend Kenny Laguna: two leather-clad old mates, constantly bickering but inseparable.