THE PRODUCERS film

[Flippancy]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:40am

I'm soooooo late to this party when it comes to discussing this movie, I know. I just saw it this weekend on DVD!

I saw the show and thought it hilarious and fun. The movie? Eh, not so much. I think the problem was in the book scenes -- some of the musical numbers were brilliant -- but they should be, as that is Stroman's forte, isn't it? The book scenes, however, were static and boring, almost as if they were an afterthought.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:52am

I rented this friday night.......frankly I liked it live much better than on film. For me the funniest part were the out-takes, they had me in stitches.

I saw it in LA with Martin Short and Jason Alexander (who were fabulous) so it was nice seeing Matthew and Nathan. I was really impressed with Matthews performance, but less so with Nathans as it seemed like he was trying to be Zero Mostel rather than make the role his own.

I didn't like Uma so much, but Will Ferrell was simply AMAZING.....

and of course Roger Bart and Gary Beach were hilarious.

I went out and bought it the next day......

[Mamie]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:30am

Did anybody ever say why Cady Huffman and Jeffrey Denman never appeared in the film?

In truth, the one cast member who didn't appear that I missed the most was the live audience. I think that added so much to the musical. The silent spots in the film matched silent spots written into the play for the audience's laughter. That missing factor dragged the film down.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:40am

Not sure about Denman, but Huffman sucks and isn't exactly a face we'd all want to see blown up on a big screen.

I loved the movie - I thought it was much better than the stage show.

[Flippancy]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:48am

"In truth, the one cast member who didn't appear that I missed the most was the live audience. I think that added so much to the musical. The silent spots in the film matched silent spots written into the play for the audience's laughter. That missing factor dragged the film down."

That's EXACTLY what it was, Mamie! Thanks for clarifying it for me...I couldn't put my finger on it exactly, but that's it. It's a show that definitely needs an audience reaction around you.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 12:58pm

I saw it this weekend for the first time and thought it was pretty awful. I enjoyed the stage show, but I think they needed a more experienced film director to pull it off.
Lane and Broderick played it just like they did on stage, that may work when you're playing to a balcony, but not on film. When Broderick goes into hysterics it's almost painful to watch. I thought the only two highlights were Thurman and Ferrell. The musical numbers were ok, but I like the versions found on the deleted scenes section better than the ones that were in the actual film.

Posted: 5/22/06 at 1:20pm

I did not enjoy Thurman and Ferrell. Lane and Broderick looked bored.

was Thurman doing all her dancing? Updated On: 5/22/06 at 01:20 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 2:38pm

Thurman had a double for the flip/split.

Beach, Bart and Ferrell were the highlights of the film. Lane and Broderick's first scene was just deadly on screen.

[Luscious]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 3:03pm

After having seen the deleted and extended scenes included on the DVD, I can't understand why the opening number was shortened. Some of the other cuts and edits were justified, but the opening number should have been left as is. Too bad. Why do these Directors get scissor happy when it comes to adapting these shows for the screen? I feel the same away about the cuts that were made by Chris Columbus toward the end of RENT.

Posted: 5/22/06 at 3:05pm

I didn't care for Uma's singing voice in the film or the movie CD. I enjoyed the stage show much better than the movie, and I loved the original movie much more than this one.
Broderick's Leo voice is annoying in the extreme (to me), and I guess that's the way the character is supposed to be. After a while, though, you just wanna take that blue blankie and put it where the sun don't shine - in his annoyingly, whiney, mouth. :)
I saw The Odd Couple, and lo and behold, there was that "Leo" voice!! Arghhh.... ah well, to each his own.
I liked Will Ferrell in this - I was surprised at his singing voice. He made a wacky Franz, however, I would rather have seen Brad Oscar recreate his role. At least he had a cameo.

[mijofly19]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 3:14pm

Although I really liked the movie, I like the stage show a lot better. I really didn't like Uma. Will Ferrell definitley impressed me. His acting was great but I also wish that Brad Oscar recreated his role. He was supposed to but he was contracted to play Max in the stage version. You're also barely able to see him in his cameo.

Posted: 5/22/06 at 3:49pm

Jon, there is also part of Ulla's dance that seemed like it was a body double. The first time she says Ulla dance and the camera is just on her abdomen.

[broadway86]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 6:54pm

I laughed a lot during this movie, but at the same time, I thought the direction was terrible and the acting was over-the-top. Will Ferrell, Uma Thurman, and especially Gary Beach were my favorites. Lane was very good, but I have a feeling that his performance reads better on stage.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 8:10pm

I actually rather liked this adaptation.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 8:18pm

Funny, I JUST finished watching it here on the boat, and I didn't care for it as much as I was hoping. I think everyone here has pretty much hit on the points I was thinking (silent pauses for laughter, performances too big for the screen, etc.) but the crowd around me seemed to love it. We have older folks on the boat and they were screaming with laughter.

I found the gay bits a touch on the offensive side, but then, Mel Brooks seems to never have a realistic gay character in any of his films.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 8:31pm

ship, Dear....it's a ship! Nice to see you posting, and as always....

KEEP IT GAY, KEEP IT GAY, KEEP IT GAY!

(he also rarely has a realistic Jewish character, either)

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:16pm

Undi, Roger Bart kills me in that....too damn funny

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 11:38am

I loved it. I bought it before I saw it.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 11:57am

I found myself laughing in spots, and quite bored most of the film.

I also felt the two big production numbers (the one with the old ladies and walkers and the one in the jail) lost a lot of their pizzaz on the screen. I thought they were brilliant when I saw the show, and just eh on the screen.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 11:58am

"Ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss..."

THE PRODUCERS is homophobic.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 12:15pm

It's not, I was just being sarcastic.

Making like of all the "racist," "albino," "homophobic" threads.

[Luscious]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 12:29pm

It was too literal a translation. When you adapt a Broadway show for the screen, the operative word is ADAPT. Susan Stroman was the absolute wrong choice to direct. That said, it still had its moments thanks to the material and talented cast.

Updated On: 5/23/06 at 12:29 PM

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 1:54pm

Other movies have captured the dances and production numbers so well - King and I, West Side Story, Chicago, to name but a few - and they just failed miserably.

And I must admit at first I found the show a touch homophobic, and was bothered by it, until I realized he's just poking fun at everyone, making fun of ALL stereotypes.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 5/23/06 at 2:51pm

I rented it last week and didn't care for it. Seeing it on stage, it's fast-paced, lively and fun. The movie falls flat on its face. The pacing is far too slow, and the pauses for laughter kill the scenes. Leo and Max's first scene was unbearably dull. I think it may have been better if Mel Brooks directed rather than Susan Strohman. She is not a film director.
I really liked Will Ferrell, but could not stand Uma Thurman. Couldn't they hire someone who could sing and do her own dancing? Her singing was emotionally flat.
One touch I did like, though, was that it had the look and feel of a 1960s movie musical. Did anyone notice, when Leo and Max get into the taxi, that it looked like those old techniques they used to make it look like scenery was moving? Same with the obvious backlot set for the Shubert Theater.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/24/06 at 9:19pm

Elphaba, YOU may call it a ship, it's just a big, oversized boat to me.

3 more weeks and I'm off this sucker.....