The movie was deadly...it picks up on every flaw the show has and amplifies them.
That said, the live version is quite enjoyable and very lighthearted, although my favorite song, "Kris, Look What You've Missed," is the most serious.
On a side note, I haven't seen it in several years, but there was a period of time where I was seeing one of the actors every single time I went in NYC. I believe his name is Patrick...tall, dark to salt and pepper hair...saw him in stores, down the row from me at "Hairspray," on the street.
The quality of the movie is lacking in places. There are some sequences that should have been reshot had they had the proper time and money. There were a lot of things working against them during the shoot that are explained in the DVD extras, but for the most part the final product is not that bad. There are a few performances that made it all worth it.
Okay, since I have re-connected with George Livengood, I'm sending him a message about the staging of the opening number that I originally saw. I SWEAR it had some sort of religious, mystical quality to it and the actors were all in robes, which were green in color.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
I saw it in LA, which was before it opened in NYC, and have to agree with Dollypop that it did open with the guys wearing robes. I also remember the other actor entering from the back of the theatre thinking he was auditioning for something else. I've had no desire to see the show here in NY, but that's how it opened in LA. It did not open with the guys already naked.
When I saw NBS (twice) in the Village, the show opened with the zipper parting and the Gratuitous Nudity song with all the guys naked. It shocked the bridal party audience into gales of uncomfortable shocked laughter.
Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!
It's very tastefully done. There's even a line in the first song saying "No Crudety, just gratuitous nudity".
Yes they're fully naked.. but theres no.. "****s" or anything. I honestly wasnt even thinking of the fact that they were naked after a while.. you get used to it. lol. There some gay jokes/humor in it.. but nothing that would make anyone unfcomfortable, just some jokes/lyrics.