Musical

High School Musical 3

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: High School Musical 3
  • IMDb: link

“You may be ready to say goodbye to East High, but East High’s not ready to say goodbye to you.”

I missed the first two made-for-TV High School Musical films, but even coming late to the party it didn’t take me long to get the lay of the land.  It’s senior year at East High in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  That means one last musical for the gang, and fears about future college plans and long-distance romance for Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens).

Although the storylines are quite simple. the sets, costumes, and choreography make stand-out performances.  The film, tongue firmly in cheek, makes homage to everything from Busby Berkley to Madonna’s “Material Girl” video.

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Mamma Mia! Sing-Along

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Mamma Mia!
  • IMDB: link

“Audiences at these specially selected theaters are invited to bring friends and family to experience the smash hit movie musical in a whole new way by singing along to the songs they love.  Mamma Mia!: The Sing-Along Edition will feature the lyrics to every musical number on the screen, and you are invited to sing and dance along.”

I enjoyed Mamma Mia!, but it has a few flaws (read that review) and seemed to be missing something.  It turns out what it was missing was an active audience.  This new Sing-Along Edition, released today in select theaters, provides karaoke style lyrics and the bottom of the screen for all of the musical numbers.  The audience is encouraged to sing along with the actors.

If you can get into a theater at least 2/3 full of Mamma Mia! fans this is the best way to see the film.  First, the audience singing along with the stars helps some of the actors (mostly the men) who struggle with their numbers.  And second, it’s just fun!

Now, if you aren’t an ABBA fan this isn’t going to change anything, but this active experience (much like the Buffy-Sing-Along or The Rocky Horror Picture Show) adds energy, magic, and fun, to the film making it an enjoyable time at the movies.  If, over time, the experience is tweaked even further with the addition of props and audience activities this film could earn a long life in late night screenings.

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Rock Me Sexy Jesus

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Hamlet 2
  • IMDB: link

“It was stupid, but it was also theater.”

A rather strange high school teacher puts together a musical sequel to Shaekespeare’s play which involves sex, profanity, a time machine, and Jesus Christ.  Say what you want about the film, and there are many valid criticisms you can make, but this original little gem, even when it goes off-course, is rather enjoyable.

Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan) is a former actor turned high school drama teacher in Tuscon, Arizona (which the movie reminds repeatedly is the worst place on Earth).

Dana’s simple life is complicated when his class of two (Phoebe Strole, Skylar Astin) is increased by other art and computer classes being shutdown, followed by the news that the Drama department is the next to get the axe, leaving Dana unemployed.

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Mamma Mia!

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Mamma Mia!
  • IMDB: link

The British stage show based on Swedish pop music comes to American theaters.  Well, you don’t see that every week.  The long-running international musical has made more than a few quid since its premiere in London in 1999.  Just how successful?  It’s the 17th longest running Broadway show of all-time (beating out little muscials like Sound of Music, The Music Man, and My Fair Lady).  It’s been adapted in eleven different languages and has grosssed and estimated $2 billion worldwide.

On a small Greek island Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is preparing for her wedding to Sky (Dominic Cooper), but something is missing.  Sophie has been raised on the island by her loving mother Donna (Meryl Streep), former lead singer of Donna and the Dynamos who now owns and runs a small villa on the island.  Sophie loves her mother and her life, but she has always been kept in the dark about the identity of her father.

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Young at Heart

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Young@Heart
  • IMDb: link

“Oh yes we can, I know we can can, yes we can can, why can’t we?  If we wanna, yes we can can.”

young-at-heart-poster

The documentary by Stephen Walker follows the the Young@Heart Chorus as they learn new songs and prepare for their next live performance.  This, however, isn’t your average chorus.

The Young@Heart Chorus is made up of senior citizens, all over the age of 70, from the New England area.  Led by director Bob Climan, the group has been performing since 1982, although not the type of music you might expect from a senior citizen group.  No, the Young@Heart sing contemporary and classic rock and pop songs such as “I Wanna Be Sedated” by the Ramones and “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by the Clash.

For their upcoming concert the group is practicing hits ranging from “Yes We Can Can” by the Pointer Sisters to “Schizophrenia” by Sonic Youth.  We get to meet each some of the members of the chorus, including two former members who have returned after serious medical conditions to perform one last time with their friends.

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