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Critics Consensus: A rousing and energetic adaptation of the Broadway musical, Chicago succeeds on the level pure spectacle, but provides a surprising level of depth and humor as well.
Critic Consensus: A rousing and energetic adaptation of the Broadway musical, Chicago succeeds on the level pure spectacle, but provides a surprising level of depth and humor as well.
All Critics (251) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (214) | Rotten (37) | DVD (22)
As sentimental as a plywood casket, Chicago has satirical bite and a mean wit that somehow never obscures its characters' unlikely likability.
With performers as good as these and the freshness of Bill Condon's screenplay and Marshall's direction, there's really very little wrong with Chicago. What it lacks is something intangible -- heat.
Rob Marshall's screen version of the near-venerable show looks great, in its razzly-dazzly neo-Fosse way, and sounds good, especially when Renee Zellweger's gorgeous Roxie Hart is singing her heart out.
The net effect of the incessant dazzle is depressing.
The song-and-dance numbers are calisthenic but unspectacular, with too much fast cutting, and the tone throughout is harmlessly facetious.
The film has punch, but it never really conveys the delicious, redeeming sense that life can be lived on the hoof.
Marshall doesn't doggedly follow Fosse. He uses scenes from many other musicals. Chicago is, among other things, a collection of fan's notes by a boy crazy about the form.
Chicago is supposed to be cynical about showbiz, not embarrassed by it. Oh, well. There'll be another film musical along around 2008.
Does Rob Marshall really think this is the way to shoot musical? [Full Review in Spanish]
I recommend Chicago.
In effect it is filmed theatre, but this brings its own compensations: the more fake Chicago looks, the more real it seems to get.
What makes this more than a film of a great stage show is the way that the action spills seamlessly from the stage sets into real life. Magic.
Might have appreciated it better had it not been for "all that jazz"! I don't like musicals usually, so apparently this form of satire didn't appeal me in the least.
Super Reviewer
Preferred Broadway show, but good adaptation. Renee was brilliant. Great music.
The music is already good, and it's a well made, dark and wry movie musical.
Not as good as the hype suggests, but still something that can be put on in the background for a brief sing and dance-a-long. Probably better in theatre.
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