What a real rocker thinks of Al Pacino as a rock star in 'Danny Collins'

Al Pacino is living the rocker life in Danny Collins (opening wider nationwide this weekend).

We buy it. The acting legend has Streisand's pipes and Jagger's moves ... he just needs some coffee first.

But what do the pros think?

Chicago lead singer Robert Lamm had the perfect opportunity to judge Pacino's rock star merits. He jammed with Pacino onstage.

In Danny Collins, Pacino performed live in concert which was actually a sold out Chicago concert at the famed Greek Theatre in Los Angeles --  parts of Pacino's first rock outing were incorporated in the film.

So Lamm saw the Pacino performance from a few feet away. Not to mention Pacino sang along for Chicago classics  25 Or 6 To 4 and Free.

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Here's Lamm's rocker/Pacino score card in descending order as given to Paste BN.

Greatest attribute: "No fear!"

Stage presence: "Good, perhaps as rusty as the character might be."

Voice: "Not unlike Neil Diamond."

Dancing: "If Mick Jagger was from the Bronx ..."

Outfit: "Needs a stylist."

Overall, Lamm's review was extremely positive.
"There's a certain amount of acting required of a rock performer. Some do it better than others. Pacino has this component in spades, obviously. "
But he wouldn't give up the gig to Pacino.
"As a lead singer in Chicago, I wouldn't 'give way' to anybody, even Pacino, except to have him sit in for a song or two. Even Pacino would have to earn it. But he certainly could start his own band, book some gigs and see what happens."
Lamm was harsher on casting Christopher Plummer as Pacino's longtime manager in Danny Collins.
"Bad casting. Plummer will always be Captain Von Trapp. Not an old Brill Building survivor."