BURLESQUE
Studio: Screen Gems

Rated: PG-13 for sexual content including several suggestive dance routines, partial nudity, language and some thematic material

Starring: Cher,  Christina Aguilera, Eric Dane, Cam Gigandet and Julianne Hough

Directed by: Steve Antin

What it’s about: A girl from the Midwest moves to L.A. to make it big in entertainment. There, she gets set up at a burlesque club where she soon becomes a featured performer. It’s basicallyShowgirls without the lap dancing, graphic rape and other NC-17 shenanigans.

What I liked: I have to admit that I was dreading this movie, but it was a buddy of mine who explained to me that a club like Burlesque doesn’t really exist and never has existed. Rather, it’s a hyper-realistic theatrical fantasy like the Moulin Rouge. In this context, this movie is a hell of a lot of fun.

The production numbers and the music are what makes this film work. Christina Aguilera belts out her songs with gusto, and they play like the bawdy numbers in Chicago and Cabaret. Cher sings a couple songs too, apparently to earn her top billing, and she does a good job.

Burlesque hits the mark for the female crowd, the theater crowd and the gay crowd. And the fact that most of the ladies dance around in their underwear doesn’t make it a waste of time for the straight guys in the audience either.

Oh, and Stanley Tucci with a glitter gun… I’m told this makes any movie better.

What I didn’t: We’ve seen a lot of the story elements before. It’s not that unique of a film, so if you’re going to look at the characters and subplots, you won’t find much there. And while 80 percent of the movie takes place in the club, whenever they’re outside in L.A. proper, the movie loses all charm and interest.

And then there’s Cher, who can barely say her lines through her overly Botoxed skin. I swear, it’s a wonder that her entire face doesn’t shatter like a porcelain mask if she trips. It doesn’t hurt that she’s put on the screen next to Christina Aguilera, who looks fantastic.

Who is gonna like this movie: Women, gay men and straight guys who want to see Christina Aguilera, Kristen Bell and Julianne Hough in their undies.

Grade: B+

Source: Film School Rejects