Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

This movie was another one of those way-out musicals. Reminds me somewhat of Moulin Rouge, but this movie never settles down and becomes a real film like Moulin Rouge does. If you can envision the first 15 minutes of Moulin Rouge, except for a couple of hours that is what this movie was like. Its plot was okay, the singing was good, and there was some nicely done cinematography. If you like musicals you should watch this one if only for the experience of watching it, if you don't like musicals then stay away from this one.

Plot: This movie takes place during prohibition. It is the tale of two friends. The good guy helps his father run the family undertaking business, and the wild child, helps his uncle run booze. They share a common love of music and that is what their friendship is based on. They both work (at night) at the local speakeasy. The good guy, Percival, plays the piano and Rooster, the wild child, performs on stage.

But then the plot diverges for the two characters. Percival meets a girl named Angel who is a singer. He falls in love with her and she encourages him to come with her and follow his dream of music. But he is torn between following her and his dreams and his obligations to his father and the family business.

Rooster on the other hand becomes the manager of the speakeasy as the original owner/manager is shot by some gangsters. These same gangsters are squeezing Rooster to pay the money the other manager owed them. Will Percival follow his dreams and will Rooster be able handle the gangsters? You will have to watch the movie to find out.

And while this sounds like a solid plot, the plot is everywhere but coherent. This is a very hard film to follow. It is very easy to get distracted by the chaos that is the musical numbers. The singing itself was good. André Benjamin plays Percival and does a good job. Great singing voice and he fits the character of the restrained good child, who always tries to do the right thing. Big Boi plays Rooster, the flashy outgoing (always getting into to trouble) child. He is flashy, rowdy, but he has a good heart, and Big Boi plays him right on target. Paula Patton is Angel. She plays the nice quiet girl. Nice voice, but I didn’t particularly like her song all that much. And Terrence Howard plays Trumpy our main gangster. Don’t remember if he sings or not, but he was great at the crazy, gangster who set the plot in motion. He has a good face for it.

The cinematography was also good in this film. There are some truly artist moments. Like the scene in the rain which is beautiful crafted, some the stage productions are over the top, and there are some really trippy moments like one scene that has a whole wall of cuckoo clocks all going off. Weird. Overall, I enjoyed the cinematography of this film.

Overall, I think this would have been a better movie if it hadn’t been so out there and chaotic. The plot is simply too loose and incoherent. Musical fans might like it, but those who are not fond of musicals will definitely want to pass this one up.


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age