The Producers (film)

The Producers
Greater Union Castle Hill (12th Jan, 2006)

I dearly wanted to see the stage show of 'The Producers' but time and money prevented me from making it to the Lyric Theatre, so I contented myself with watching the film version when it opened last Thursday. I like musicals and I'm not afraid to advertise that fact so I assumed I was in for a treat.

From the outset, 'The Producers' is a great romp through showbiz, parodying everything from the ridiculous acts that appear on Broadway (Hamlet the Musical, anyone?) to the over-the-top characters you'll find behind the scenes. Max Bialystock is a washed-up producer drowning in flops until his accountant Leo Bloom suggests that he can make more money with a flop than a hit if he can raise more money for the show than necessary and pocket the excess when it fails. Bialystock does the rounds of his little old lady investors (cheques in exchange for some loving) while Bloom falls in love with Swedish actress wannabe, Ulla. Unfortunately for the duo, the combination of the worst play ever written, an inappropriately flamboyant director and a cast of nobodies makes a surprising hit and the two are ruined.

The film certainly has the colour and projection of a musical but its volume is too large for the silver screen. This results in overacting and it is this lack of subtlety that begins to grate when the song and dance numbers drag on. The lyrics are clever and the songs are enjoyable to an extent, but repetitiveness just doesn't work on screen, especially the end of the songs when the scenes that would usually benefit from an applause transition seem choppy.

Nathan Lane does a great job as the sleazy but not quite vulgar Bialystock while Matthew Broderick is at his earnest best as Bloom. The fringe players, namely stars like Will Ferrell and Uma Thurman, interact well with the producers so all is not lost in the movie. Yes it's funny but even this musical-lover couldn't give this musical adaptation a standing ovation. I think I might just stick to seeing musicals on the stage.

*** - regular laughs interspersed with regular tedium