Is It Hanging on the Shirttails of the Musical

Rating: 7/10 (19 September 2012)

It's certainly a good story. It has heroes and villains and the heart of the artist put to the test. The reason I didn't react to it so well is that I've been there a hundred times before. That is not to say a movie about following your dream isn't valid. It's in the telling and I didn't feel anything new. That said, the performances are quite good. The clashes over artistry are more subtle than I thought they would be. The connection made, finally, with the father and his sacrifices are worthy. But for me, it seemed clichéd. Even that connection appeared a bit contrived and out of character with someone in such a volatile setting. I know that this is an immensely popular musical that is sweeping the country in 2012 after years in European venues. I will see it if I have a chance. I have a suspicion that the music raises it and the dancing puts a punctuation mark on it. Perhaps the story is made more by nature of the artistic extension.