Smith brings the happyness for brown Buffy

Rating: 5/10 (30 May 2019)

It may have been the monk Tripitaka who asked: if musicals are back, shouldn't we expect stars who can sing?
Smith retains some magical charms and our brown Buffy heroine hinted that an entertaining girl powah adventure lies somewhere in her future once her narrative shackles are gone - but the sum was somehow short of the parts in this technicolour revisiting of a classic story.
A wonderful centrepiece number and a strong turn from our villainous grand vizier are other attractions.
But lazy direction and the indifferent acting chops of the youthful lead left the feeling of having watched the longest Hallmark card ever.