[Dean's World] Dean: Don't Be Stupid, Be A Smarty, Come And Join The Nazi Party

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Posted by Dean:
Don't Be Stupid, Be A Smarty, Come And Join The Nazi Party
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1168103955.shtml


   Finally caught [1]The Producers musical on DVD this morning. I'd never
   seen the stage production and never really wanted to; frankly, while
   it had its moments, I was never that big a fan of the original movie
   and, worse, I generally cannot stand Nathan Lane. He's so annoying I
   just want to slap him most of the time. Also, I've felt for some time
   now that Mel Brooks was played out and hadn't really made anything
   decent in many years.

   So I was pleasantly surprised by how very enjoyable the movie musical
   was. I really liked it quite a bit, and was even a little mystified at
   some of the mixed reviews it got. I found it very funny, I found the
   music catchy and well-crafted, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the dance
   numbers. Really, it was quite good.

   Putting a broadway show onto the silver screen is always difficult.
   Stage actors are always more over the top--by necessity--than movie
   actors. Director Susan Strohman basically didn't try much to tone
   anything down for the movie production. So I suppose if you're not
   used to bombastic and loud, maybe the movie will seem over the top to
   you. I thought it was great myself.

   I've also known for a long time that Matthew Broderick fancied himself
   a song and dance man. But you don't see him do much of that in movies.
   But he's very good, actually. Having seen him in a [2]quite credible
   version of The Music Man, I was still impressed; he really can sing
   and dance.

   And, oddly enough, this was the first movie I ever saw Nathan Lane in
   where he did not annoy me. Perhaps it's because he put his usual
   flaming queer personality on hold and played it straight, but I really
   liked him as Max Bialystock.

   It was also a treat to see Will Ferrel and Uma Thurman singing and
   dancing. I never thought I'd see that out of either of them. And they
   were also quite good.

   I can tell that the stage production was probably even better,
   although I'll probably never see it. In any case, I'd give this one a
   solid four out of five.

References

   1. http://www.amazon.com/Producers-Widescreen-Nathan-Lane/dp/B000EWBKMG/sr=1-1/qid=1168103034/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4713790-9667245?ie=UTF8&s=dvd/deansworld01-20
   2. http://www.amazon.com/Meredith-Willsons-Music-Man-Film/dp/B0000BWVMQ/sr=1-2/qid=1168103718/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-4713790-9667245?ie=UTF8&s=dvd/deansworld01-20