Burlesque, the new movie starring Cher and Christina Aguilera, out razzles Chicago and out dazzles Dreamgirls. The film is all glamour, sex and divas. This is Aguilera's screen debut as a small town girl with a dream, who finds work in a Los Angeles Burlesque club straight out of Cabaret. There she is mentored by owner/manager Tess, played by Cher, who is returning to movies after a seven year absence and appearing in a musical for the first time.
The movie's plot is as old as Hollywood itself. A young girl comes to LA to make her dreams come true, but has them crushed instead. Until that one lucky break comes along and she steps out on the stage a star. Burlesque borrows elements from Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Chicago, Moulin Rouge and Bob Fosse's Cabaret
Christina Aguilera is Ali "Alice" Rose, a girl from a small town in Iowa who has big dreams. In the film's opening montage she sings "Somethings Gotta Hold Of Me" as she throws away her old life and heads to Hollywood to find a new one. She quickly learns that following your dream isn't easy, as she receives one rejection after another. Then one fateful night she finds the Burlesque Lounge featuring a dated, but lively Burlesque revue. She knows she has come home. But landing an audition is no easy task so she takes a job as a cocktail waitress just to be on the inside.
Cher is Tess, half owner and manager of the Burlesque Lounge. We meet Tess on stage singing "Welcome to Burlesque" one of the few numbers she does in the show; and the only one with real vocals. All the other performers lip sync while performing the provocative choreography.
Tess is living out her dream, but it is quickly crumbling around her. The lounge does not make enough money and there is a balloon mortgage payment due. Her ex-husband and business partner Vince (Peter Gallagher) is pressuring her to sell out to real estate mogul Marcus Gerber (Eric Dane).
Tess refuses and relies on the optimism and support of her long time friend and stage manager Sean (Stanley Tucci). Ali gets support and a roof over head from bartender and wanna-be song writer Jack (Cam Gigandent) who has a fiance in new York, but is developing a crush on Ali. The film also features Kristin Bell as Nikki a dancer, past her prime, who sees Ali as a threat.
Ali gets her first break when she lands an audition and Tess puts her in the chorus line, but the film really breaks loose when Ali gets a chance to sing live. Forced to improvise, she busts out with "Tough Lover" and shows the world what she can do.
The rest of the film involves romantic misunderstandings and financial maneuverings, but that hardly matters. What's important is watching these ladies strut their stuff to one song after another. Cher has a show stopping ballad "You Haven't Seen The Last of Me" which audience members applauded. And Aguilera brings down the house with the finale "Show Me How You Burlesque".
Cher looks great and her voice, at the age of 64, is still fantastic. But the film belongs to Aguilera who, as Tess says, owns the stage. Cam Gigandent, as Ali's love interest, is a fresh face on the scene and he handled his romantic scenes with charm and intensity, holding his own against Aguilera. They definitely had chemistry together. Stanley Tucci shines once again in the role of friend and confidant. Can anyone throw out quips and one-liners as well as he can? The film also features Alan Cummings in a small role as an employee and performer at the Burlesque lounge.
This is the debut film by former child star Steve Antin. He wrote the story with a screenplay written by Diablo Cody (Juno) and Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich, Ever After and The Soloist). It's a strong first effort by a freshman director.
Burlesque has enough songs, dances, divas, glitz, and tits & ass for two movies. If scantily clad women singing, dancing their hearts out and exuding sex appeal all over the stage sounds like your idea of fun, make sure you check out Burlesque when it opens November 24th. Burlesque is what going to the movies is all about.
At the Movie House rating *** 1/2 stars
3 comments:
They fooled me with Cage La Follies and Chicago, it won't be happening again...I'll pass on this nonsense...Cher is a has-been who has been replaced by Time and Aguileria is a has-been replaced by GaGa....Also, please refrein from cursing in your reviews
I am surprised you know who Lady GaGa is! There was no cursing in the review. It was a reference to a famous song in A Chorus Line of the same name.
Thank you for clarifying. Interesting name for a song...By the way, I love GaGa
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