Before the Spice Girls’ laid claim to ‘Girl Power’, there was Blondie and The Bangles. And before them, there was The Runaways: the very first all-girl rock band.

Formed in 1975 by Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart), Sandy West (Stella Maeve) and manager Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon), The Runaways fast became one of the most iconic bands of the their time, despite being in the spotlight for only four years.

This biopic from Floria Sigismondi follows band members Joan and Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning), who is recruited as the band’s front-woman due to her David Bowie style and Brigitte Bardot looks, and documents their rise to fame in a unique coming-of-age story of female musicians making it in a misogynistic music world.

Bella and Jane are popping, snorting and teaching band members how to wank over Farrah Fawcett

Based on Currie’s memoirs, The Runaways hones in on the singer’s relationships with Jett and the family she leaves behind in favour of er, sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.

Indeed, Sigismondi has not shyed away from the band’s antics. so Twihards, you have been warned: Bella and Jane are popping, snorting and teaching band members how to wank over Farrah Fawcett. Oh and the pair share that kiss, followed by a scene that leaves little to the imagination.

Fanning is scarily good as the once shy Cherie and her character’s derailment is made all the more convincing by the dramatic back story of an absent mother, alcoholic father and her devoted twin sister, Marie. Admittedly it does feel a little wrong watching the waif-like 16-year-old strutting around on stage in her underwear for much of the time - especially when headlines scroll across the screen in one montage, reminding us that The Runaways are ‘actual jail bait’ - but, well, it happened.

Stewart is equally impressive as the passionate lead guitarist, becoming Jett both physically (gone are those lip biting and hair fiddling days - horray!) and emotionally. But despite the film beginning and ending with Joan - who was an executive producer - Stewart’s character isn’t greatly explored, making the balance of the subject matter a little undecided.

Furthermore, the rest of the band fade into the background, with one fictional bassist having been brought in to smooth over the reality that The Runaways went through six in their four years at the top. But then this isn’t really a story about music; it’s a story about celebrity and at times, friendship.

Even so, it is Shannon (as extrovert manager Kim Fowley) who is the ultimate scene-stealer throughout. Whether he’s inflating his own ego or putting the girls through their paces by making boys lob dog shit at them while they rehearse, Shannon always gets the evil genius/Frankenstein-in-drag flamboyance just right, bringing the perfect amount of dark humour to the role.

Solid performances, infectious tunes, and a beautifully shot, 70s Hollywood paint over the film's minor cracks and we fully admit to falling for that stylish backing of enormous bell bottoms, wide lapels and masses of eyeliner. In fact, we didn't get enough of it and were left wanting to hear more about Joan Jett and her - arguably - more intriguing story.