Once Upon a Mattress
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Movie Reviews of Once Upon a Mattress
Movie Review: The Best Musical I've Seen in a Very Long Time.
Summary: 5 Stars
So, a lot of reviewers here have seen Carol Burnette play Princess Winnifred as well as experiencing other versions of this comic musical rendition of The Princess and the Pea. I respect that you have seen those versions and like them better, but some of us haven't, so we have to work with what we know. I empathize with your feelings entirely, having cringed at the late 90s version of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.
The latest stock of musicals transferred to DVD from either television or film have been embarrassingly bad. Down with Love, Bride and Prejudice, the new Willy Wonka, Moulin Rouge, and the new Music Man--none of these will be remembered years from now. This is definitely not the case with Disney's new offering of Once Upon a Mattress.
Having purchased this on DVD just a few nights ago, I fell in love immediately and have watched it repeatedly since--not a typical undertaking for yours truly. Carol Burnette is her vintage self as she undertakes the role of control freak Queen Aggravain, and reminds one easily of some of the hilarious villains she played on her variety series--which I'm gratefully old enough to have grown up with. Tom Smothers is hilarious and touching as the mute king, and I love the fact that they allowed him to play with his yoyo on the set! Zooey Deschanel and Matthew Morrison sang beautifully together, but it wasn't lost on me the hilarious edge that these two good-looking people who would normally play the stereotypical lead roles ended up being the understudy romance in this version. That's what makes this version so very funny: Thank you Disney for providing just a touch of reality to this film by making Prince Dauntless and Princess Winnefred both middle-aged people! How hilarious is it to see a mother who still ruthlessly clings to her still-single "little boy" in his 40s and a less than lovely, flambouyant single princess desperate to fill an "opening" to be his princess. Denis O'Hare is charmingly boyish, innocent, and sympathetically funny as the prince for this reason (Come on, ladies, there are a lot of guys out there like this--in fact I am related to one of them!) and Tracey Ullman steals the show as the swamp Princess Winnifred with vigor, vitality, and boundless energy. That is a very physical role for a woman her age to play, but she carries it off with such skill, she reminds me of Lucille Ball who also didn't shy away from these roles at that time of her life. I knew she was a talented comedienne, but I didn't realize just what a great dancer and singer she is as well until seeing this movie. With all due respect to Miss Burnette, there's no question whose movie this is!
Featuring unforgettably melodic songs (Unlike the bad ones in both Bride and Prejudice and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) with sharply intelligent and witty lyrics, there won't be too many great musicals of this calibre coming down the pike any time soon. In fact, I think this one has the power of endurance along with the likes of Gypsy, My Fair Lady, and West Side Story. Watch for my personal favorite scene, the Spanish Panic, simply one of the cutest and most entertaining dances I've witnessed on film in a very long time. It is a very charming bit that involves the nostalgia of roaring 20s and 30s Broadway dancing that actually makes you feel like you want to learn it yourself. Obviously, I really enjoy this presentation. In, fact, I'd personally love to give it 10 stars, and hope you and your family feel just as enthusiastic about it.
Movie Review: An Easily Overlooked Delight!
Summary: 5 Stars
Disney brings the 1959 off-Broadway-to-Broadway hit retelling of The Princess and the Pea back to the small screen with their 2005 feature adaptation of "Once Upon a Mattress", and if you're a fan of musical fairytales at all, you should be fully delighted by it! Carol Burnett is back in the cast too, only now she takes up the role of controlling Queen Aggravain, who refuses to accept any princesses vying for her son's hand as worthy to marry the not-getting-any-younger prince. Denis O'Hare plays Prince Dauntless to manchild perfection here, evoking thoughts of the great Ken Berry, while modern comedy queen Tracey Ullman aptly takes up the role living legend Burnett originated, the ungraceful but winning Princess Winnifred. Also on hand in this well-cast version are charming Tom Smothers as the silent King Sextimus, cursed to be mute until "the mouse devours the hawk", Michael Boatman as the Jester who speaks for him, Edward Hibbert as the Wizard who assists the Queen in her schemes, and Matthew Morrison as Sir Harry and the beautiful Zooey Deschanel as Lady Larkin, a couple who must help the prince finally wed so that they may get married themselves. You see, there is a law in the land that no one can marry until the prince does, even though the Queen seems dead-set against that, and this is especially bad for Lady Larkin, who now finds herself a mother-to-be.
And that last plot point illustrates that there is a tad bit of raciness to this story for something carrying the Disney moniker, let alone a musical fairytale as such. Nevertheless, it isn't overplayed, in my opinion (you might have to be a Disney fanatic like myself to achieve any initial shock by it at all), and in truth, as much as I adore Zooey and her singing voice (she and her voice are as lovely as can be in this one), she and Morrison seem to fall into the background a bit upon initial viewings, surrounded by such bold, comedic personalities in the other roles. This film is definitely for fans of Burnett, Ullman, and O'Hare, who are a treat throughout. The songs are all very enjoyable too, and while they are not instantly memorable, some repeat viewings will surely cause some to stick for you, and this IS a film one can watch over and over. It's not one of the most oft performed shows in the country for nothin'! So, if you are a fan of musicals, fairytales, or anyone in this cast, and especially if you grew up on those old Cannon Movie Tales from the '80's Disney Channel as I did, you really should pick this one up! I don't think you'll regret it! Bonus features on this enhanced widescreen DVD include a nice Making-Of featurette with some insight into the play's history, some Behind the Scenes outtake footage, and a couple of rehearsal to film comparisons of the musical numbers "Shy" and "In a Little While". Now, I have read some complaints about songs from the original play not being included in this TV incarnation, so there is the downside that will appear for some longtime fans, but if you are new to the show, it won't be a problem and you'll be in for a well-paced, entertaining fairytale treat that so many of us missed on its quiet TV and DVD debuts!
Movie Review: Extravagantly Nonsensical
Summary: 5 Stars
"I want some happily ever after to happen to me." ~Princess Winnifred
Tracey Ullman and Carol Burnett acting in the same movie seems to create an especially hilarious comedic chemistry. Based on the hit Broadway show from the 50s, this retelling of the "Princess and the Pea" is a delicious dance through fairytale land.
The castle set is magical and filled with cherry trees, roses trailing over the tower walls and dreamy moonscapes viewed from the top of the castle. The cinematography is especially clever, causing even scenes that would be a normal interaction to suddenly turn into an occasion for laughter. The camera angles are very creative.
Tracey Ullman plays Princess Winnifred and her physical comedy is filled with a mixture of childlike wonder and adult comedy. She alternates effortlessly between gazing at the moon and dancing in complex choreographed sessions that show a high sense of artistic precision. Candles throughout the set create an appealing romantic mood. The sets and especially brilliantly designed costumes could not be more entertaining.
As Queen Aggravain attempts to get rid of Princess Winnifred through a variety of tests, Prince Dauntless becomes more and more amused by the challenge between his mother and his love interest. I have to say one of the scenes I laughed over the most was Queen Aggravain feeding Prince Dauntless chocolate cake.
~The Rebecca Review
Movie Review: My Kids and I Loved It!
Summary: 5 Stars
OK, so I'm sure Carol Burnett was fab in the original show, but for my two kids and I who had never seen this before, we really loved it. It was so nice to see some real dancing on a TV movie, the colors were great, Carol's costumes were wild, and Tracy and Dennis were a hoot as the two lovers. Who cares that they were "older"? Dennis was great as a big "momma's boy" coming out of his shell and Tracy was terrific throughout. Smothers was sweet and sly, and overall it was a lot of fun. I've been introducing my kids to movie musicals lately (Danny Kaye, Gene Kelly, etc. etc.) and this was a whole lot of fun.
I'm sure many out there have great memories of the Broadway original and other productions, (including ones they were themselves in.). Hey, I was in Fiddler on the Roof when I was a kid, but I don't judge the movie by what my high school did! I say bravo to Disney for bringing something to TV that may encourage kids to go to see the "real thing" on Broadway and to support more musicals made for film and TV. And for those who complain about the cuts to the script, hey, it ain't sacred text here, it's a musical!
Movie Review: Brilliant.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been there, done that show, had a great time doing it. But, please, don't even try to compare the stage version to the screen. Burnett and company have taken this show to the public and made it ENTERTAINMENT. The idea that the new "40 year old virgin" is the prince is so funny. Tracey Ullman in all her glory just scrapping it up is, well, Tracy Ullman, what more do you need. Tommy Smothers???? Come on. This was fun. It was intelligent. It was stylish. And filmed and choreographed beautifully. I don't even care if they missed some songs (since I was Sir Harry once and hated "Yesterday I Loved You"). Can't anyone just have FUN anymore???????? I give it a five for flow and silliness and, in a crazy way, honesty. And PS: Burnett was brilliant, no matter what anyone else thinks.