Burlesque (B or 3/4 stars)
Well, whodathunkit? 'Burlesque' (written & directed by Steve Antin, and starring Christina Aguilera & Cher) may just wind up being the most shallow, ridiculous, but unabashedly entertaining movie to come out this year. And it's one of the better musicals that have come out since Chicago; simply because the filmmakers realize that musicals are supposed to be, you know, FUN (looking at you, well-crafted, but self-serious Dreamgirls & Nine).
The film takes place in Sunset Boulevard's 'Burlesque Lounge'; a lounge on its last legs, financially. In walks a plucky, but naive wannabe singer/dancer from Iowa named Ali (Aguilera). After getting past the door man (Alan Cumming), she's awe-struck by the atmosphere, the dancers, & an onstage performance by Tess (Cher), the club's co-owner. Tess belts out 'Welcome to Burlesque' with a host of dancers behind her; wearing eye-popping bustiers & fishnets. No one will give Ali a job, so with the help of nice-guy bartender, Jack (Cam Gigandet), she creates one out of 'thin air' (a running narrative motif). Ali grabs a tray & makes herself a cocktail waitress. She's IN. But Tess & her gay stage manager, Sean (the always underused Stanley Tucci) still refuse to let Ali perform onstage. Subsequently, Ali gets the chance to dance & show off her show-stopping voice, after alcoholic star dancer, Nikki (Kristen Bell) is nixed from the show.
Ali becomes an overnight star, but the lounge is still facing bankruptcy. Tess' ex-husband & fellow proprietor (Peter Gallagher) pleads with her to sell to nefarious real estate developer, Marcus (Eric Dane), while sharp-witted Sean assures her that she doesn't need to sell. The movie's romantic angle centers on Ali's tentative flirtation with Jack the bartender. They wind up being circumstantial roommates in his Hollywood apartment, but he has a fiance (Dianna Agron) living out of state. Back at the burlesque lounge, good girl dancer, Georgia (Julianne Hough), gets preggo, and bad girl, Nikki, connives to undermine Ali for the stardom she stole from her. Backstage melodrama & romantic entanglements ensue; serving mostly to exhibit song & dance numbers from the female characters.
'Burlesque' is nearly 2 hours long. It starts to lose some of its flash & pizzazz towards the end; mired in boring subplots involving the Eric Dane & Peter Gallagher characters. But for well over an hour, I experienced one of the best times I've had in a theater all year. The story is as old as they get: ingenue moves to Hollywood, stumbles into an idyllic lounge, becomes an overnight sensation - leading to everlasting friendships, romance, conflict & enemies. But 'Burlesque' gets a jolt from the surprisingly decent Aguilera (showcasing a burning desire to succeed - oh, how life imitates art), the fabulous Cher, & some stunning musical sequences - mounted with lavish sets, suggestive dancing & catchy tunes. Some would argue that the plot is flimsy & skin deep - well, of course it is! Viewed objectively, this isn't a very good 'film'. But its infectious cheesiness is an asset. It's not aiming to be high brow cinema.
'Burlesque' accomplishes what so few films (particularly movie musicals) do nowadays ... it has a blast. It's not looking for justification to exist (like so many others). 'Burlesque' is just a campy, entertaining holiday movie that offers 2 real-life divas doin' their thang, fun songs, slinky costumes, ridiculous plot points, tongue-in-cheek dialogue, larger-than-life characters, a little drama, & a little comedy. The narrative is uneven, & the boring stretches near the end irked me, but unless you're a real cynic (or cranky pants) than I think you'll have a good time watching 'Burlesque'. I forgot about my own world for 2 hours. And to the professional critics who gave this film a poor review, yet said: "awful, but fun", "bad, but good", "an entertaining guilty pleasure" - I say, stop being hypocritical.
The film takes place in Sunset Boulevard's 'Burlesque Lounge'; a lounge on its last legs, financially. In walks a plucky, but naive wannabe singer/dancer from Iowa named Ali (Aguilera). After getting past the door man (Alan Cumming), she's awe-struck by the atmosphere, the dancers, & an onstage performance by Tess (Cher), the club's co-owner. Tess belts out 'Welcome to Burlesque' with a host of dancers behind her; wearing eye-popping bustiers & fishnets. No one will give Ali a job, so with the help of nice-guy bartender, Jack (Cam Gigandet), she creates one out of 'thin air' (a running narrative motif). Ali grabs a tray & makes herself a cocktail waitress. She's IN. But Tess & her gay stage manager, Sean (the always underused Stanley Tucci) still refuse to let Ali perform onstage. Subsequently, Ali gets the chance to dance & show off her show-stopping voice, after alcoholic star dancer, Nikki (Kristen Bell) is nixed from the show.
Ali becomes an overnight star, but the lounge is still facing bankruptcy. Tess' ex-husband & fellow proprietor (Peter Gallagher) pleads with her to sell to nefarious real estate developer, Marcus (Eric Dane), while sharp-witted Sean assures her that she doesn't need to sell. The movie's romantic angle centers on Ali's tentative flirtation with Jack the bartender. They wind up being circumstantial roommates in his Hollywood apartment, but he has a fiance (Dianna Agron) living out of state. Back at the burlesque lounge, good girl dancer, Georgia (Julianne Hough), gets preggo, and bad girl, Nikki, connives to undermine Ali for the stardom she stole from her. Backstage melodrama & romantic entanglements ensue; serving mostly to exhibit song & dance numbers from the female characters.
'Burlesque' is nearly 2 hours long. It starts to lose some of its flash & pizzazz towards the end; mired in boring subplots involving the Eric Dane & Peter Gallagher characters. But for well over an hour, I experienced one of the best times I've had in a theater all year. The story is as old as they get: ingenue moves to Hollywood, stumbles into an idyllic lounge, becomes an overnight sensation - leading to everlasting friendships, romance, conflict & enemies. But 'Burlesque' gets a jolt from the surprisingly decent Aguilera (showcasing a burning desire to succeed - oh, how life imitates art), the fabulous Cher, & some stunning musical sequences - mounted with lavish sets, suggestive dancing & catchy tunes. Some would argue that the plot is flimsy & skin deep - well, of course it is! Viewed objectively, this isn't a very good 'film'. But its infectious cheesiness is an asset. It's not aiming to be high brow cinema.
'Burlesque' accomplishes what so few films (particularly movie musicals) do nowadays ... it has a blast. It's not looking for justification to exist (like so many others). 'Burlesque' is just a campy, entertaining holiday movie that offers 2 real-life divas doin' their thang, fun songs, slinky costumes, ridiculous plot points, tongue-in-cheek dialogue, larger-than-life characters, a little drama, & a little comedy. The narrative is uneven, & the boring stretches near the end irked me, but unless you're a real cynic (or cranky pants) than I think you'll have a good time watching 'Burlesque'. I forgot about my own world for 2 hours. And to the professional critics who gave this film a poor review, yet said: "awful, but fun", "bad, but good", "an entertaining guilty pleasure" - I say, stop being hypocritical.