Clichéd, Feel Good, Chick Flick with Fantastic Music

Rating: 7/10 (2 January 2012)

Now this is obviously, not a film with a plot to keep you guessing until the end. It is, in essence, exactly what it says on the tin. In this film you'll see clichés, cringe-worthy enthusiasm, romantic moments, beautiful outfits and fantastic dance numbers. The plot, in a nutshell, is small town girl makes it big in L.A...helping more than just herself along the way using mildly unexpected methods. And I loved it. Every clichéd, unrealistically happy, relatively predictable minute of it.
Christina Aguilera, Cher, Cam Gigandet and Stanley Tucci make for a fantastic leading cast. There is chemistry between every last one of them. So much so in fact that you believe that they all work together and watch each others backs for real. Christina Aguilera is full of wide eyed, occasionally annoying enthusiasm, as her character demands. Cam Gingandet manages to shine as a slightly campy - but oh-so-straight bartender. Now, I'm slightly biased in the sense that he is fantastic eye candy throughout the entire film - but his character (despite sometimes being a little underdeveloped) is extremely likable. In fact, even the supposed 'bad guy' Marcus is not totally hopeless. He is a believably human and non-evil cloud in the blue Burlesque sky.
It probably doesn't live up to Chicago, or Caberet - but I sincerely doubt it was ever meant to compete with these. I mean, just watch a trailer and you'll understand!
If you aren't up for a chick flick musical...or even a sweet romcom with music (yes, it is funny) then you shouldn't watch this film. But I really enjoyed it for what it was the first time. And I definitely intend to watch it again and again.