Though many would have you believe that musical films have a limited appeal, the reality is that the genre has been growing in popularity over the years, blending songs with everything from sex, action, and horror to produce both critically and commercially successful films. Yes, we all know how popular the High School Musical franchise is, but regardless of varying public opinion of Zac Efron’s acting talent, few can deny the quality or success of such titles as Moulin Rouge!, Chicago, Dreamgirls, or Sweeney Todd. Screen Gems clearly wanted to play-off the strong draw of a good musical with its newest release, Burlesque, and in pairing musical icons like Cher and Christina Aguilera, its obvious that the studio was swinging for the fence. Given that this would be Aguilera’s first venture into feature film, marketing efforts clearly tried to position Burlesque as a “passing of the torch” moment between a screen legend and a popular newcomer. As a fan of both women, I knew at the very least, I could expect some spectacular musical performances in Burlesque.
In terms of song quality and performance, Burlesque is absolutely phenomenal, but unfortunately, with the absence of a strong story, this newest entry in the musical genre is little more than an extended music video. Christina more than showcases her vocal talent, and Cher once again proves why she is both an award-winning actress and the unquestioned “Goddess of Pop.” Watching the interaction between these two is easily one of the most entertaining aspects of Burlesque, and audiences will appreciate the significance of Cher coaching an up-and-coming performer. Aside from the strong music though, the story of Burlesque is still painfully formulaic and predictable, to the point where I simply found myself wishing the characters would stop talking and start singing again. If you are a fan of Cher or Christina, or if you are simply looking some entertaining musical performances, then Burlesque is definitely worth seeing, but if you’re looking for anything beyond just music, then this film will clearly fall short.
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Overall Recommendation: Medium
