Having been in a show choir in college I admittedly have a soft spot for stage performance. Burlesque, a unique and musically driven film from director Steve Antin, relies heavily on the vocals of its leading songstress - if it had been anyone other than Christina Aguilera I don't think the film would have worked.
Featuring the typical set of story lines Burlesque was easily predictable from the onset. Aguilera plays Ali, a young aspiring performer who has just made the trip from Iowa to Los Angeles. Along the way she befriends a bartender who might hold the key to her future at the somewhat hidden 'Burlesque Lounge'. But she will have to impress Tess, the owner, if she ever wants to get up on stage.
I was most interested to see how Aguilera did in her feature film debut. The verdict: surprisingly well. In fact, I would even venture to say that she shares an unusually strong on-screen bond with co-star Cher. But it should be noted that Cher, who is first billed and bears an Oscar to her name, is harshly underused in her portrayal of Tess. There was surprisingly no duet, no cat fight and no man drama. Of all the things this film could have done, I'm speechless that the 'legend' and the 'star' never opted to share the mic in an all out diva battle between the two powerful songstresses.
The music is catchy and up-beat, a tempo that will please crowds but handicaps the story. One too many music montages were used to help expedite the plotline, and every dilemma seemed fixed within a matter of seconds. Don't get me wrong, i love fast paced stories, but when you get a room full of attention seeking stage performers there is bound to be a bit more drama and diva attitude than was on display.
Ultimately, Burlesque is nothing more than a two hour music video; though it opts to take advantage of the lack of censorship as it adds a little drive with some revealing costumes and provocative dances. Stanley Tucci is on top of his game as Tess's sidekick Sean, but then again,I expect nothing less from the ultimate supporting actor. This film will not see the same praise as either Chicago or Mamma Mia!; however, at the end of the day, the productions make the film. Burlesque is not the best option out there, but a fun choice nonetheless.
