jc-osms
Take a little "Fame", a bit more "Chicago", a little bit more "Dreamgirls" and a lot more "Cabaret", mix them all up, serve cold and hey presto - "Burlesque" a really very clichéd, stereotypical movie musical featuring divas from the past and present in the personae of Cher and Christina Aguilera.You name it, almost every stock character and situation you can think of in this context is worked in and to death, the young, talented wannabe singer, her backstage, bitchy rival, the older Teflon-tough mother-hen club-owner with a heart of gold, her gay, sympathetic, through-thick-and-thin assistant manager, the grasping, super-rich property magnate out to buy out the failing club and the handsome, sympathetic barman who wouldn't you know it, is a gifted songwriter with a long-time, long-distance fiancé who puts up the young singer with predictable results. The story really itself from all of the above in a wholly predictable manner which would be all very well if it was well acted, staged and acted but unfortunately it isn't. Cher's face us so botoxed that she can only just make her lips move to speak, Aguilera tries hard, way too hard, to impress leaving just Stanley Tucci to steal most of his scenes as everyone's shoulder-to-cry-on.Like the aforementioned "Dreamgirls", the songs just aren't strong enough either and fail to lodge themselves in the memory in any way. When Aguilera's boy-friend near the end finally presents her with the big song he's been holding back for her, it's just a formulaic sub-disco effort. Moreover, it's ridiculous for Aguilera to make her big pitch to Cher by pleading to actually sing rather than lip-synch on the club stage, only for her to proceed to lip-synch all her own songs from then on.The production numbers too lack the snap and imagination of "Chicago", never mind anything Bob Fosse ever created, leaving the film a rather empty construct, filled with paper-thin characters and a happy ending constructed, literally out of thin air.This I'm afraid is one cabaret you don't want to come to.
Python Hyena
Burlesque (2010): Dir: Steve Antin / Cast: Christina Aguilera, Cher, Stanley Tucci, Eric Dane, Kristen Bell: Total xerox of Showgirls as if that is much of an inspiration. It regards expression and how a small town waitress ventured to Las Angeles in hopes of becoming a sensation. Director Steve Antin is backed by several energetic musical numbers that are full of flair but the story is just a recycled mess. Christina Aguilera is traveling familiar territory from small town to big time impressing everyone. She definitely has the pipes to carry a concert but as an actress she isn't quite as polished as someone in the heights of Cher, but as a musician she holds her own. Cher is the one solid performance as club owner struggling to pay to keep her business. We know that she will be impressed with Aguilera and ultimately save the club, but saving the film is beyond her reach. Eric Dane as the bartender whom allows Aguilera a place to crash is a complete prop. He is basically there to romance her while talking about an out of town girlfriend who is not available just enough so that it becomes unnecessary. Stanley Tucci plays Cher's gay production director who assists Aguilera while providing emotional support for Cher. Even Kristen Bell makes an appearance and all her charm cannot muster up a hint of originality. The dance numbers are not bad, and sometimes even flashy and inspiring but it is within a screenplay that is anything but inspiring. Not so much about dancing as it is its lame sidetracked subplots that we have seen in a dozen other films about hopeless dreamers. Score: 3 ½ / 10
chudyseusz
"Burlesque" Oh Christina ! The voice, energy and beauty in one filigree body ! Story is simple – a girl comes to LA to make a carrier !Lots of song et cetera. I have noticed that during Alice's "audition" there is as a backdrop a collage of Tamara Lempicka (POLISH great artist)painting. 'Adam&Eve' – once belonging to Barbara Streisand a remarkable artist of POLISH descend too. Keep on dancing and singing C!She is such a great even though being filigree but her voice is power. Cher long time not seen this still is a woman to watch.All but all I spent a pleasant time watching it.More pleasant to listen to all songs included in it.
SnoopyStyle
Ali Rose (Christina Aguilera) leaves her small Iowa town waitress job for the lights of L.A. Tess (Cher) is the owner of the Burlesque Lounge. She struggles to keep the aging venue going. Ali hires herself as the new waitress. Alexis (Alan Cumming), Sean (Stanley Tucci) and bartender Jack Miller (Cam Gigandet) work there. Ali gets kicked out and stays with Jack thinking he's gay. It turns out that he's engaged to Natalie (Dianna Agron) who is away in a NY play. Vince Scali (Peter Gallagher) is Tess' ex-husband who owns half of the club. Nikki (Kristen Bell) is the club's diva star. Georgia (Julianne Hough) is looking to replace her as the star. Real estate guy Marcus Gerber (Eric Dane) is dating Nikki and trying to buy the club from Tess.Aguilera is too old to play the young innocent thing who comes into town. The story is older than Cher. It has no originality at all. The song and dance is fun for a little while. Aguilera knows how to sing and even Kristen Bell does a good job. However all the performance are too similar and they wear thin really quickly. They get repetitive and boring. I don't mind Aguilera's acting although she's not winning any awards any time soon. She has charisma and that's a good start.
