Burlesque reviews thread

[Nickira Margherita]

Posted: 11/27/10 at 2:35pm

I went and saw Burlesque last night, and as a gay man I knew I would enjoy it for the most part. But I had NO IDEA how FANTASTIC it would be!! I really can't remember the last time I was so entertained with a movie! What most people need to understand is that this movie is not the next great American cinema classic, nor does it try to be. What it aims to be is pure entertaining fun, and MAN DOES IT DELIVER! From the opening scene with Christina singing alone in the diner I knew we were all in for a real treat. The story is nothing really new: Ali (Christina Aguilera in a fabulous breakout performance) is a small town girl from Iowa who packs up and moves to LA to start a career as a performer. One night she wanders into the Burlesque Lounge and is immediately enthralled when Tess (a MAGNIFICENT performance from Cher) performs her opening number "Welcome to Burlesque". She immediately wants a job there doing whatever she can, and gets one as a waitress with the help of Jack (the delicious-beyond-belief Cam Gigandet). Eventually she convinces Cher and her gay assistant (Stanley Tucci--can he even give a bad performance? Is it possible?) that she can perform in the show and she is given a part in the ensemble. She eventually winds up going on for Nikki (the radiant Kristen Bell), who is not happy at all about the situation. When Nikki sabotages the act and people start leaving, Ali opens up her mouth to sing (Tess was always the only one who sang live). Let me tell you that my jaw was on the floor; it was a truly spellbinding moment. We all know Christina can sing, but DAMN. Of course she becomes the star of the club overnight, and the rest is history. While the story has been done countless times, Burlesque does it in a very refreshing and entertaining fashion. All of the musical numbers are memorable for their own reasons, and the for the first time I can say there was not one number in the movie that was forgettable. The cinematography in this film is not to be believed, it was just absolutely gorgeous to look at. There were many times throughout the film where I just had to smile. The last time a musical looked anything like this, in my opinion, was Dreamgirls. I think this film actually ups Dreamgirls in terms of cinematography. I really believe that this film will receive an Oscar nomination for the cinematography, and probably one or two of the songs. Cher's power ballad "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" was sensational, and Christina's ballad "Bound To You" was one of the most gorgeous and haunting performances ever seen in a musical film. The performances overall were wonderful, and Christina really surprised me. For her first film she did an absolutely fantastic job and was for the most part very believable. She has wonderful screen presence; I couldn't take my eyes off her everytime she was onscreen. Cher brings a very regal quality to her role, being the legend that she is. She still has it, both vocally and in the acting department. Cam Gigandet just oozed sexuality (Famous Amos cookies. That's all I have to say). Stanley Tucci plays a gay man for the five thousandth time in a film, but he was sensational comic relief. This was definitely a movie for women and their gay best friends, but the straight men were even entertained when I saw it due to the overabundance of sexy, curvy female dancers gyrating all over the place. You can tell that Cabaret had a huge influence on this film, and I even saw aspects of Gypsy in certain moments. My only real complaint is that after Cher's ballad the movie loses some of its enery for a little while, but when the finale comes it really hits with a massive punch and is sure to be considered one of the greatest musical movie finales ever put on screen. Go into this movie looking simply to be entertained and you will NOT be disappointed!

[Holbee]

Posted: 11/27/10 at 3:52pm

to me it was like a B List 40's backstage musical. Not very good but somewhat enjoyable...

[Marlothom]

Posted: 11/27/10 at 4:02pm

I didn't enjoy this at all and I wanted to like it so much. I have loved Glitter, Showgirls, and I am a huge fan of Christina, but I still was let down by this. Too long for what it is, and some of the characters (Alan Cummings, Kristen Bell) are grossly under-used. Songs I loved in the soundtrack (Cher's #) were performed in throwaway formats.

[Trish2]

Posted: 11/27/10 at 11:01pm

As posted in my earlier thread , a way too long music video. Although most of the cast did well with the dismal script, Christina should stick to singing, and Kristen Bell should be embarrased by that shoddy performance.

[jt1890]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 9:37am

I actually thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I went in there ahead knowing not to expect some life-changing movie but something that was just purely wanting to entertain you for two hours. I don't think anyone went into making this movie thinking they were going to be vying for any Oscars, atleast I hope.

The musical numbers I thought were stunning and had a wonderful style to them. The visuals were just amazing. The choreography as well I just loved. I do wish there were more long shots and less choppy filming so you had more of grasp of the whole look. My favorite numbers were both of Cher's and Christina's finale song. I do believe that Cher's big number could have been approached differently as it does kind of stop the entire movie and it take a while to get it going again. But nonetheless, you can't argue that Cher sounds better than ever and really commands your attention from the very first moment in "Welcome to Burlesque". Stanley as always was a great scene stealer. Alan Cumming was random and not necessary at all. I found the love interest for Christina to be really the weakest for me.

I do wish they had musical numbers for the other principals, specifically for Nikki (Bell). But I guess it goes against their no one else sings at the club but Tess, but would have been nice, and could have added more to the storyline and more conflict.

But all in all, it was way better than any Glitter, or Crossroads, hell I sadly enjoyed it more than Nine, and I wanted Nine to be amazing with such a cast. Nine tried to be groundbreaking with its casting but forgot that the material had to live up to that cast.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 9:52am

I'm still not sure if this is a satirical review.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 10:00am

They knew their audience...women and gays. For what it was it was okay. Cher shined every time she was on the screen. The musical numbers and singing were great. My problem with the movie it dragged in parts. At times I would look at my watch and think "is this almost over". But again it was not trying to be an Oscar Best Picture. But I would not be suprised if the Golden Globes gives them a nomination and possibly Cher in their Musical/Comedy category.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 6:12pm

It looked like five music videos strapped together with an insipid plot.

The editing was very much like a Chicago wannabe.The choregraphy a Fosse/Rob Marshall rip off. Not new in any way.

And if it was a gay crowd pleaser--the gay crowd I went with universally hated it.

And just where is this Burlesque place? Nothing I have seen looks like that. AT least Showgirls took place in Las Vegas where it made sense.

Shouldn't Burlesque have been about the Burlesque era? Now that would have been a movie.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 6:58pm

Maybe instead of calling it BURLESQUE, they should have called it CABARETMOULINROUGECHICAGOSHOWGIRLSWANNABE.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 7:14pm

It were OK.

Christina was overused. I got so sick of hearing her sing similar numbers over and over. You have a cast of singers (Alan Cumming, Kristen Bell, Julianne Hough) and you give them nary a line to sing.

Cher was wasted. When she was onscreen the audience got quiet. She got 1.5 songs and Xtina got like 8. Not fair.

I think other characters could have been given songs.

It was fun cotton candy but it was quite forgettable. There will be no Oscar buzz so forget that. It might score a Golden Globe.

Plus, I dont get how a struggling Burlesque club about to shutter has better production values and stage craft than most shows on Broadway. It boggled my mind.

But I could watch Cam for hours. He fine.

It was Connie and Carla meets Chicago meets Cabaret meets ABC Family's version of Showgirls. Oh and Cher and XTina played Connie and Carla.

[bk]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 8:00pm

Oh, this always happens - a universally reviled film suddenly has its avid and crazed supporters. Every film in history. The reality:

In fourth place, Burlesque collected an estimated $11.8 million on around 3,500 screens at 3,037 locations for a $17.15 million five-day start. Its gross was on par with Rent, the last major musically-oriented Thanksgiving release, albeit with lower attendance.

3,500 screens and 11.8 holiday weekend equals unmitigated box-office failure. On a par with Rent (and we all know how much THAT grossed - although THAT awful film also has its rabid champions), but with less attendance and higher ticket prices. I predict the DVD will be out in about eight weeks.

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 8:19pm

I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Christina Aguilera made an extremely dynamo film debut, albeit in a role that has been recycled through the ages. Cher, oh Lord! I didn't care if she had 1/4 the songs of Christina, she sold me on "You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me" and I CRIED!!!!!

I agree that other characters should've recieved some songs. (Julianne Hough does have an amazing voice, as does Alan Cumming). Other than Cher's big solo, Cam Gigandet with his shirt off (and other garments, for a brief period) is also worth the ticket price.

Eric Dane's character was horribly contrived and very 1-dimensional. It was a stock character (moreso than Christina's character).

The production values of the musical numbers are AMAZING!! The music was also fabulous where I would recommend a purchase of the soundtrack as well.

I give this movie a 7.5/10 - - C

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 8:41pm

Cher and Tucci had amazing chemistry. Now THAT was acting!!!!!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 9:27pm

I cried, too.

Because the movie came to a screeching halt for Cher's solo.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 9:43pm

The movie came to screeching halt whenever a song was sung because it was a non-related music video.

Cher needed to be in the finale seeing as how supposedly she was a performer at the lounge or was she just a performer for Xtina's entrance. There were a lot of inconsistencies.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 8:04am

I'm going Wednesday. Expecting camp, nothing more.

Hoping to be entertained.

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:00pm

Just have to say, I loved it. Is it a great movie? No, but it's really enjoyable in an eye-candy kind of way.

I'd see it again, and I may just do that before it leaves the theatres.

[Patash]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 2:41pm

"movie came to screeching halt whenever a song was sung because it was a non-related music video."

What am I missing here? The entire show was about a girl "making" it on stage in a "burlesque" show, but the numbers in the show are "non-related"? HUH? How could the story even be told without those numbers?

I can honestly understand why many people feel musicals come to a halt when people supposedly burst into song on a street or in their house backed by a full orchestra. But this is a show ABOUT musical numbers -- and they were all performed as a major PART of the story. Even Cher's last solo was being sung as a rehearsal -- not just her singing her thoughts while alone in the bar.

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 3:41pm

I personally loved the numbers, and I didn't have a problem with them. Several of them did reflect the feelings of the performers even though the were persented on stage as part of the show. And, several were just stage creations.

To me it was the point of the movie. I thought the staging, costuming, and make-up for the numbers was very good.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 6:00pm

The lame romantic subplot killed the movie for me. It didn't need it and added to the already-too-long running time.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 6:34pm

I felt the musical numbers weren't great because I believe only one was in context of what was happening in the film (the one during the sex scene.)

Otherwise, they were just XTina music videos just stuck in the film. We got the point early on that she was killing onstage without her multiple musical numbers that all sounded similar. yes, yes we get the audience loves her and she is bringing the club to life.

Oh, and how does it make sense that Cher is "practicing her number" and its a mopey ass ballad. How exactly would that be worked into a burlesque number.

I loved the Cher song, but it just made no sense. And again, if Cher was the only singing headliner pre XTina, why wasn't she performing more.

Both XTina and Cher needed to be in the final number. The movie was anti-climactic.

I thought movie was ok, but it wasn't that campy or fun. It took itself pretty seriously.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 8:34pm

I don't think the movie was very good, but I found it hard to hate the film. It's pretty innocuous. I enjoyed most of the musical numbers and I thought Aguilera's acting was decent enough.

The movie isn't really doing that terribly at the box office so far. It started out slow on Wednesday and Thursday and then picked up some speed on Friday. That Gyllenhaal/Hathaway movie and the Dwayne Johnson movie both opened worse.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/1/10 at 12:28am

It was great fun! I loved it, I agree with the poster! Guys, this movie will is a "must-see" for any Broadway fan. Great musical numbers.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/1/10 at 7:27pm

As usual, Rich Juzwiak's take is invaluable:

"Pay no attention to the reviews disappointed that Burlesque isn't more of a disaster -- this movie is the real deal, a spectacle in every sense and connotation of the word, an immediate camp classic that will only get better with time"

http://fourfour.typepad.com/fourfour/2010/11/welcome-to-the-canon.html