The Fantasticks
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Movie Reviews of The Fantasticks
Movie Review: Return of The Great Old Musical
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, I have seen this movie twice now since its long delayed release (shot in 1995, released in 2000, after being shelved for 5 years), and I have to say that this is just a delightful return to the days of the big production musical.
This is a very quaint and old fashioned movie that may not sit well with many of todays young skeptics, but I have to say that I am a sucker for a story of young love and for old musicals like Carnival, Oklahoma, and South Pacific.
The plot is rather Romeo and Juliet like, only with a twist in that the feud between the families of the young lovers is faked in order to bring them together. A new digital recording technique allowed the actors to sing their parts live during the dance sequences, so there is no mismatch between audio and video as there always was, to some degree, in older musicals. The cinematography is excellent, and final editing by Francis Ford Coppola cut 15 minutes off the original length, and smoothed the transitions between the acts.
Jean Louisa Kelly (Mr. Holland's Opus, and more recently of CBS monday night TV) has the voice of an angel, and Joel Gray, as her father, brings his usual magical, gravity defying, elegant , dance talent to the picture. Other notable performers include Jonathan Morris, as Carnival leader El Gallo, and Barnard Hughs, as an aging and bumbling Shakesperian actor. Teller, of Penn and Teller, adds comic relief by more or less playing himself. If you are a Boomer with Children, this is a delightful family film. It would be a good date film as well for younger romantic types, if there are any left. If you are a cynic, and would have trouble suspending disbelief for an hour and a half, this film is not for you, it's just too cute. For the rest of us it is a wonderful trip back to the old musical love stories.
Movie Review: A Fantastic Transition from Stage to Film
Summary: 5 Stars
The film version of this Broadway chestnut was a long time coming, and even when it did come it sat on a shelf for several years after being filmed. It took Francis Ford Coppola's interest in it to help usher it in to theatres after some strategic editing. But it was all worth it, because this version of "Fantasticks" doesn't disappoint in the least.
As one who is very familiar with the off-Broadway show (and saw the original production at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village...of course, who didn't...it ran for over 40 years and became the longest running musical in the world), this version pushes all the right buttons present in the stage version while adding some new surprises as well. Thanks to the watchful eyes of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (the original creators of the show) who wrote the screenplay, this filmed version is spared the fate so many Broadway musicals suffer in the transition from stage to celluloid, often losing their original magic in favor of adding marketable box office stars (who don't always fit, let alone sing), new songs that don't quite work, etc.
Former Backstreet Boy Joey McIntyre turns in a fine performance as The Boy; Jean Louisa Kelly is delightful at The Girl and the late Barnard Hughes couldn't be more wonderfully befuddled as The Old Actor. Joel Grey adds some Broadway star power to the proceedings as one of the fathers. And they all sing with their own voices (quite successfully, too).
If you've never seen this classic tale of lost innocence and true love, you owe it to yourself to see this movie (or stop in at the Snapple Theatre in Times Square/NYC where a well-received revival of the show is currently playing).
Movie Review: The Fantastisks is magical!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Golden Age of movie musicals of the 1930s - 1950s is long gone. However, once in awhile, we are treated to an exceptional musical. A few come to mind: West Side Story 1961, The Music Man (1962), My Fair Lady (1964), Sound Of Music (1965), Oliver! (1968), The Boy Friend (1971), Fiddler On The Roof (1971), Cabaret 1972, Pennies From Heaven (1981), Moulin Rouge (2001), Chicago (2002) and The Phantom Of The Opera (2004). I'd like to add The Fantasticks (1995) to this list. It is visually stunning, it sounds great and has a magical quality that is absorbing and mesmerizing. I believe it is not meant for everyone, but that is very true of each and every musical listed here. I am drawn to this film and find it more rewarding and appealing with each viewing. It is true that the show's most popular song, Try To Remember is abbreviated, but it is beautifully done and there is an alternate version and a deleted version available on the disc. This was also a complaint in A Chorus Line (1985) with it's most popular song, What I Did For Love. Perhaps the powers that be, felt that these popular songs would date the films. In any event, if you love musicals, I think you will find much to cherish with The Fantasticks.
(By the way, A Chorus Line is another enjoyable musical, but the film suffers by mis-casting Michael Douglas and then diverting too much attention with his relationship with the Cassie character). Back to The Fantasticks! Don't be put off by the unwarranted and surprisingly nasty comments by detractors. Watch the film and decide for yourself.
Movie Review: An enchanting little film
Summary: 5 Stars
I am one of the few people in the world who have never actually seen the stage play of "The Fantasticks". I loved this movie. This is a marvelous, magical, spellbinding story. I felt the casting was well done. Jean Louise Kelly makes an adorable Louisa while Joe McIntyre made a sweetly innocent Matt. Joel Grey was not in this movie near enough, but he pulls off a stellar performance with what he has to work with. I thought the dance segment with Jean Louise Kelly was especially touching. El Gallo portrayed by Jonathon Morris put the magical spin on this whole story. I loved El Gallo having this witty yet sexy side to him in addition to being the mystical and wise mastermind bringing these two naive teenagers together.The extra scenes available on the DVD are terrific. If you watch the "directors comments" you can understand why a few of them were cut. Be sure and watch "It isn't easy to die". This should have been left in. Teller and Barnard Hughes are hilarious, as are Jonathon Morris' reactions to them.
The set design and surrounding scenery are breathtaking. This is a very surreal yet enchanting movie, making it easy to slip in and out of the singing segments. I only wish a soundtrack had been made. It would make a great addition to the other two that are available.
Beautifully done. Beautifully acted.
Movie Review: The Abridged Fantasticks
Summary: 5 Stars
Upon seeing the DVD of the long awaited release of "The Fantasticks", I can honestly say that someone at MGM Home Entertainment had some sense to enrich the DVD with all the foolishly edited scenes and songs that were omitted in the the theatrical release. It was great to see all the excised footage but in the same sense had U/A marketed this film properly and had not had the film foolishly re-edited, it may have done well at the box office. My one regret was that the reprise to "Try To Remember" was used in the final product and not the original filming that is included as an extra. After seeing the film and the deleted scene, the film seems sort of empty. I recommend the disc to musical lovers as it offers a lot but, it would have been nice had this film been given the respect it deserved and all excised scenes and songs were placed back where they were originally intended. On one final note, Ritchie's Commentary is quite interesting to listen to after seeing the film...