These Movies Are Just Plain Fun!Aug 24 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line I'm a creature of habit and need to watch a lot more musicals than these, but, hey, they're old friends.
Sometimes I like movies that don’t make me think a lot and simply entertain me. Musical movies especially are brilliant vehicles for pure, slaphappy entertainment, which make you feel wonderfully refreshed during and after viewing. There’s a lot of them from the past that aren’t written much anymore probably because of a number of reasons, but I would suggest that they require much more talent than most of today’s actors, writers and directors can spare. Since looking through all the titles in the Musicals and Performing Arts category, it’s made me reflect on what musicals have been most entertaining to me, no matter if they’ve been panned, because they just make me feel more alive every time I give in to my addiction to them. So here are ten movies that you may never see on another Top 10 list in your life! 10. Staying Alive (1983) You know, I still haven’t managed to see Saturday Night Fever, its daddy, but I must’ve watched buffed-up John Travolta, Cynthia Rhodes, Finola Hughes and Frank Stallone sing and dance in this bomb of a sequel that’s not even in the Epinions’ database a dozen times in my life. It doesn’t make me think at all while I relish the heavy or soulful beats of the Bee Gees and Frank Stallone or while I am charmed by the dancing and their dreams of being stars on Broadway. The love triangle causes a sexual tension in the show they’re dancing in, but the actual sex is not seen. I can appreciate this and enjoy it everytime I catch it on TV. 9. Purple Rain (1984) This semi-autobiographical movie for who was formerly known as The Artist Formerly Known As Prince is another very entertaining time for me. I love the Academy Award-winning musical score, of course, and seeing The Kid (TAFKAP) perform them with his band at the Minneapolis club. What also engages me is his story of struggling to find his identity as a person and singer while seeing the suicidal despair of his father. Appolonia Kotero plays his sexy and sweet girlfriend. Morris Day and Clarence provide some laughs in this intense movie that always makes my eyes well up during the singing of “Purple Rain.” 8. Victor/Victoria (1983) I’ve written a complete review of this Blake Edwards’ gay/lesbian musical starring his wife Julie Andrews and dashing James Garner who feels sure “Victor” is really a woman. The songs are lively and fun with Andrews’ gorgeous, deeper voice and the movie set in 30s London keeps me laughing throughout since it rarely takes itself too seriously. Robert Preston, the Music Man, trains Julie to act like a gay. What a hoot! 7. Grease (1978) I know, I know. John Travolta singing and dancing again, but he has Olivia Newton-John with him. Stockard Channing also sings some of the most fun songs you can sing along to on a soundtrack. Set in the 50s, Danny and Sandy fall in love during summer break, then end up in high school together and have to deal with each other amidst their peers. The danceable music definitely makes the movie. 6. Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Here’s another good one if you just want to be entertained! Innocence meets sexual freedom in a hilarious, rockin’ movie that people have memorized they have seen it so often. Meatloaf on a motorcycle even has a cameo. Tim Curry is Frankenfurter, the mad doctor, and Susan Sarandon is sweet Janet engaged to Brad played by befuddled Barry Bostwick. 5. The King and I (1956) A classic romantic musical that has been intriguingly remade with Chow Yungfat and Jodie Foster, but no one can replace Yul Brynner or Deborah Kerr as far as I’m concerned. He has charisma and presence few actors ever achieve and it’s a delight watching him, the King of Siam (Thailand today), fall in love with a strange and proper British woman. Oscar Hammerstein music shines, too. 4. Showboat (1951) Ah, the glory of the South! Strangely enough, blacks are invisible in this remake, except for their showcase of the black slave singing in his deep rumble about how the river keeps on rolling on in “Old Man River.” Still, I think I prefer this glossy remake with Ava Gardner as sultry-singing Julie, Howard Keel. Kathryn Grayson, Agnes Moorehead and the Hap-py New Year captain. It’s a lavish production of a showboat going slowly down the Mississippi and a love story between a charming gambler, a tender-hearted wh*re and a vulnerable girl who must each grow up...and not in Epinions’ database! 3. My Fair Lady (1964) Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison swept the Academy Awards with this fun movie that has a rich man play with refining a flower girl, who realizes he needs her in his life. I have a good time watching Eliza try to communicate her feelings to pompous Henry Higgins, which he doesn’t want to hear. Her father is a lovable rascal, the songs and dances are eternally memorable and love has rarely been so charming. Hepburn’s songs may be dubbed, like Gardner’s were, but every song by her, Harrison and her father is a true classic. 2. The Wizard of Oz (1939) Simple, unadulterated fun. Judy Garland’s debut has her singing “Over The Rainbow” and dreaming of being thrown into the land of Oz with the Munchkins. There are good and bad witches to deal with and the logical Scarecrow, the compassionate Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion who gains courage. Judy as Dorothy sings and skips down the Yellow Brick Road with them on her way back to reality. 1. Singin’ In The Rain (1952) I had to include Gene Kelly’s most impressive showing of his dancing, singing and co-directing talents. Not only is the comic timing perfect throughout the movie, but perky Debbie Reynolds, goofy Donald O’Connor and whiny Jean Hagen work extremely well with Kelly. Set in the late 20s as voice movies made their appearance in the U.S., it will take turns leaving you in awe or stitches!  |
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