I'm probably one of the greatest suckers for a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical in existence. THE SOUND OF MUSIC is my all-time favourite movie. Each day I probably unconsciously hum half a dozen of their legendary show tunes. And if there's one type of movie that I need in my staple film diet, you betcha it's a musical.
That probably makes me a suitable candidate to be enchanted by this remake, in a current modern day tundra of literally no musical films in production, right?
However, as much as I'd like to see the genuine musicals of yesterday back into production bringing out more Freed units, Busby Berkleys and Judy Garlands, I might as well keep on dreaming. This not only embarrasses the genre, it throws a giant obstacle into the path of the musical making a comeback into mainstream popularity.
The cast of CINDERELLA may have big names to back it up, but what is Brandy, Whitney Houston, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander and Bernadette Peters without a decent screenplay which not only doesn't fit together, but isn't in the slightest bit funny? And although I appreciate a movie that runs under two hours, I also happen to like something called believability. The costumes and sets bog down the production in a syrupy mess, in a village that looks like something like a candy factory and successfully removed all the whimsy, and added all the pitifulness with the wishes and dream message.
The only performance I enjoyed was Bernadette Peters, but her image which has made her difficult casting in movies, only proves too well why she should stick to Broadway, where she has not forged a brilliant career with material worthy of her talent, but is able to show why Broadway audiences have loved her for over three decades.
Shirley Jones, the star of the film versions of OKLAHOMA! and CAROUSEL stated once when asked if there was a way to sing Rodgers and Hammerstein, she said, "Yes, *exactly* as it is written". Watching the cast attempting to defy the perfected combination of lyrics and music by adding obvious sounds of R&B music to those tunes and turkey new offerings is somewhat stomach churning. In fact, I couldn't make it through the first hour before I got up from my chair and ran terrified from the TV set. As much as I wanted to like an offering from Rodgers and Hammerstein, I don't think the current production was really what they had in mind.
Perhaps I'm being too judgemental on a family movie, but I didn't really go into watching the movie expecting the standard of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The only thing that saves the film remotely from complete doom are the wonderful, romantic songs, like "Ten Minutes Ago", "In My Own Little Corner" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful".
Rodgers and Hammerstein's only foray into TV is probably best seen left in the hands of professionals, like Julie Andrews. Tailor-made for her role, she is undoubtedly the quintessential Cinderella. If her 1957 version of the classic was ever made available publicly, it'd probably be extremely popular.
As a result of this forgettable and disastrous film, are Rodgers and Hammerstein turning over in their graves?
I wouldn't be at all surprised if they are.
Rating: 4/10
That probably makes me a suitable candidate to be enchanted by this remake, in a current modern day tundra of literally no musical films in production, right?
However, as much as I'd like to see the genuine musicals of yesterday back into production bringing out more Freed units, Busby Berkleys and Judy Garlands, I might as well keep on dreaming. This not only embarrasses the genre, it throws a giant obstacle into the path of the musical making a comeback into mainstream popularity.
The cast of CINDERELLA may have big names to back it up, but what is Brandy, Whitney Houston, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander and Bernadette Peters without a decent screenplay which not only doesn't fit together, but isn't in the slightest bit funny? And although I appreciate a movie that runs under two hours, I also happen to like something called believability. The costumes and sets bog down the production in a syrupy mess, in a village that looks like something like a candy factory and successfully removed all the whimsy, and added all the pitifulness with the wishes and dream message.
The only performance I enjoyed was Bernadette Peters, but her image which has made her difficult casting in movies, only proves too well why she should stick to Broadway, where she has not forged a brilliant career with material worthy of her talent, but is able to show why Broadway audiences have loved her for over three decades.
Shirley Jones, the star of the film versions of OKLAHOMA! and CAROUSEL stated once when asked if there was a way to sing Rodgers and Hammerstein, she said, "Yes, *exactly* as it is written". Watching the cast attempting to defy the perfected combination of lyrics and music by adding obvious sounds of R&B music to those tunes and turkey new offerings is somewhat stomach churning. In fact, I couldn't make it through the first hour before I got up from my chair and ran terrified from the TV set. As much as I wanted to like an offering from Rodgers and Hammerstein, I don't think the current production was really what they had in mind.
Perhaps I'm being too judgemental on a family movie, but I didn't really go into watching the movie expecting the standard of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. The only thing that saves the film remotely from complete doom are the wonderful, romantic songs, like "Ten Minutes Ago", "In My Own Little Corner" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful".
Rodgers and Hammerstein's only foray into TV is probably best seen left in the hands of professionals, like Julie Andrews. Tailor-made for her role, she is undoubtedly the quintessential Cinderella. If her 1957 version of the classic was ever made available publicly, it'd probably be extremely popular.
As a result of this forgettable and disastrous film, are Rodgers and Hammerstein turning over in their graves?
I wouldn't be at all surprised if they are.
Rating: 4/10