Burlesque (2010)

Release date: November 24, 2010
Director: Steve Antin
Screenplay by: Steve Antin
Cast: Christina Aguilera, Cher, Stanley Tucci, Kristen Bell, Alan Cumming, Peter Gallagher, Cam Gigandet, Julianne Hough, Dianna Agron

I know almost for a fact that most people I know will give me flack over willingly watching Burlesque, but I can not help it. I love the musical genre without regrets… and I guiltily enjoy films about the small town girl that goes to the big city to make it big.

That’s why I watch Coyote Ugly, as well as Connie & Carla almost obsessively whenever they’re on television.

I also happen to know that a lot of people hated the Best Song nominations at the Golden Globes, which went to Burlesque‘s Cher number You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me, which happened to be written by Diane Warren.

In Burlesque, Christina Aguilera (debuting as an actress leading the film) plays small town girl Ali, heading to Los Angeles to become a singer. She ends up waiting tables at a place called Burlesque, where lightly clad dancers lip-sync to sexy numbers, and big boss Tess (Cher) struggles behind the scenes to keep her club afloat.

In reality, the film does feel like a mix of Coyote Ugly and Connie & Carla. There’s the sappy love story of the girl falling for the boy, and the club/bar owner that loves her club so much she’s ready to go down with it. Then there’s the heavy makeup, the sets and musical numbers. That’s where it shines the most, after all, it’s Christina Aguilera and Cher doing what they (generally) do best, which is sing.

However, the film is not all copycat. Cher is actually quite compelling as the club owner trying to make ends meet, and might actually be the better part of Burlesque — You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me shot with just Cher singing is probably the best part of the WHOLE movie- which Warren did mention was gonna be the bomb [1]. It also includes great moments for Stanley Tucci playing a great gay (again!), and Kristen Bell playing an amazing b!tch. If the film had focused a lot more on that, instead of Ali trying to connect and get together with Jack (Gigandet), then it might have been a more than average movie. All my love to Christina, but… there’s probably a reason you test out with small roles first. Leading a film is a tough job to take on unless you are a multi-talented star like Barbra Streisand or Better Midler are.

Despite that, this is definitely going to the guilty pleasure watchlist.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

amy

YAM Magazine editor, photographer, blogger, translator and part-time web designer. Film junkie, music junkie… and lately series (a.k.a. TV) junkie.

6 Responses

  1. Julili says:

    My inner gay man bothe loved and hated this movie

    • amy says:

      @Julili, I didn’t hate the movie, but I did want the guy to get out of the way. It would’ve been great to have Christina around Kristen a lot more, since I feel they underused her bitchy prima donna xD and I’m not even a huge Kristen Bell apologetic.

      Though Cher’s mother…ly/daughter scenes with Aguilera were kinda cheesy… I think her vibe against Bell played much better. Especially in that scene in the parking lot. xD

  2. i haven’t seen this movie but it looks pretty bad. i know people like you who didn’t mind it and others who loathe it

    • amy says:

      @Candice Frederick, I don’t think it deserves loathing, but it wasn’t the best thing ever either. I did think Cher’s song deserved that Oscar nom for Best Song instead of Country Song, though.

  3. Juan Barquin says:

    STILL MAD DIANE WARREN DIDN’T WIN AN ACADEMY AWARD.

    YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE LAST OF CHER, ACADEMY!!!!!!!!!!

    • amy says:

      @Juan Barquin, she wasn’t even nominated, was she? The was the moment of the movie… that, and Kristen Bell’s bitch in the parking lot scene. xD

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