The Prom: Film Review

Synopsis

From Netflix:

A group of down-on-their-luck Broadway stars shake up a small Indiana town as they rally behind a teen who wants to go to the prom with her girlfriend.

Review

It’s a lot of fun. That’s the biggest takeaway... it’s a very fun, bright, and entertaining movie. It’s also very cheesy. I remember now from seeing the play that, while it is an important story, it is still very cheesy. It’s also VERY Ryan Murphy (that has its pros and cons). Take that to mean what you will. It is most remarkable on a technical level, the cinematography and production design in particular. Meryl Streep is amazing. The cast is great... except for James Corden. He seemed miscast, partly because he’s a straight actor playing a flamboyantly gay character. However, at the same time, it’s almost like he wasn’t flamboyant enough. Barry’s character is one of exuberance and flamboyance and Corden just didn’t deliver all the way. I remember Barry being my favorite character in the show and I did not feel that way at the end of this. Now, I am not a James Corden hater as a shocking amount of people on the internet are, but I do feel that his talents were not the ones needed for that role. Also, something needs to be said about the odd nature of the fact that the film was marketed around his character when the actual main character, Emma, who is played by an LGBTQ+-identifying actress, is the one who the focus should be on... but we don’t have to get into that right now. Anyways, y’all know I’m a fan of musicals, so I enjoyed myself while viewing this film. The music is great... VERY Broadway. My favorite sequences were “It’s Not About Me,” “Tonight Belongs to You,” and “The Lady’s Improving.” It is funny. And, it is an uplifting story and will provide a very joyous 2 hours.