This is the kind of film that you think back on and say to yourself "hey, that was a great scene" and by the time you're done you've said that about two-thirds of the scenes in the film. Director Rob Marshall brings the famed Maurine Dallas Watkins and Bob Fosse production to the scene with classic musical flare.
The picture follows the infamous rise to celebrity of Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger, NURSE BETTY) after she kills her lover, who had promised to get her a starring gig on the stage. She ends up in the same prison with the infamous Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones, TRAFFIC), a successful stage star who killed her sister and her husband. Matron Mama Morton (Queen Latifah, SET IT OFF) is the warden of the prison and for a "small" fee she sets Roxie up with Billy Flynn (Richard Gere, PRETTY WOMAN), the most successful lawyer in town. After Roxie gets her nobody husband Amos (John C. Reilly, WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE?) to foot her defense bill, Roxie becomes a media darling thanks to Flynn — even overshadowing Velma.
The song sequences are very inventive and give the film its needed energy. Roxie's first press conference scene where she is a puppet, Flynn is the ventriloquist and the press are marinates on strings was ingenious. More so, the courtroom scene truly captures the circus-like feel of the proceedings. I also liked the subtle anti-death penalty analogy on displayed in the scene where all the woman talk about their crimes. Watch for the color of the handkerchief that the Russian ballet dancer pulls out. I also have to point out the witty dialogue. My favorite line comes from Flynn talking about how things would have been a lot different if he was hired to defend Jesus.
When it comes to singing Gere and Zeta-Jones were adequate, Zellweger was better than some have been giving her credit for, Latifah was good, but Reilly's "Mr. Cellophane" number was the most emotional and best-performed song in the film. Reilly just proves again that he is the best character actor working in film today. In addition to his singing, Reilly is a great shmuck, and that's a compliment. While his dancing is passable at best, Gere plays up the smarmy headline hound with great comic flare. Zellweger and Zeta-Jones play nicely off each other as their places in the world slowly flip-flop. One thing that's true of the entire cast is that they look like they are all having fun.
Big stars, slick production design, witty dialogue, all come together in a piece of fun, excellently crafted entertainment. I wholeheartedly recommend this wonderful musical.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
