I finally gotten around to seeing this one. For those
of you not familiar with it (is there anyone who isn't???), it is a movie beased
on the Broadway play that was based on the movie produced in the 1970's by Mel
Brooks. As you can imagine, that means it is going to be rip-roaring
funny.
As with Hairspray, I put off seeing the movie because I
could not figure out why there was a need to make it. The original movie is a
classic. I can understand making it into a musical play, but why remake it into
a movie again???
Well, I was glad that I finally watched it because the
new version does strengthen things with additional songs and scenes that
strenthens the story. The whole things centers around musical-flop producer Max
Bialystock and former accountant Leo Bloom as they try to make it rich on the
Great White Way. They try to do it in a most non-traditional way. Bialystock is
sick of the fact that his career is floundering. Bloom points out that it would
be easy to make it rich by using investors to bring in more money to make a play
than is necessary and let it flop. But who would be that
unscrupulous.
Before long, they are doing everything they can to create a
well-funded bomb that is destined to fail. It takes on the form of Springtime
for Hitler, a musical set during the rise and fall of Hitler in an attempt
to make him appear sympathetic. They higher a failed director to put it on, the
neo-Nazi scriptwriter and Hitler fan to take on the lead, and a gorgeous
secretary with poor English to be the female lead. How could this play possibly
succeed! Well, it does because it is so bad that it is good, and the critics and
audience take the whole thing as dark satire landing the main characters in a
whole lotta trouble!
Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick show what made
them a masterful due on Broadway with this work by reprising their roles on
celluloid. They are accompanied by a number of familiar cast members including
Will Farrell, Uma Therman, and even a cameo by Mel Brooks himself. I actually
liked this better than the original. Who would have thunk it!
6 comments on The Producers - A Movie Review
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I saw this on the big screen when it was first released. I liked it but it wasn't memorable to me. About a year ago I saw the original and I thought it was much better. Go figure, eh?
LOL! That is too funny! I actually have the original one on DVD, and I still like it.
AJ
I have put off seeing this one, too, until I know I am in a state of mind where I will watch it without wanting to compare it to the original all the way through the viewing. I loved the original and I want to love this one.
There is quite a bit of differences between the two even though the core storyline is the same. I am glad that I watched it.
AJ
AJ, this is one show I would have liked to have seen on stage! Mel Brooks IS funny and I am sure the stage production was brilliant. Walked out the movie theater I thought thi was so crappy and I like Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. Uma Thurman was HORRIBLE!!! Just MO :)
I can imagine this would have been incredible on stage! In some ways you can see how it was adapted from being a stage work.
AJ