For having no expectations...a colossal all around disappointment

Rating: 5/10 (1 July 2014)

I have never seen the stage play of Jersey Boys though I have always wanted to. I still would like to because I know how different the film version of stage plays can be. It seems to be that the producers and directors of unsuccessful stage to movie adaptations seem to forget that that stage plays are so successful for a reason and completely butchering them will make people not like the movie. I don't know if that's the case with Jersey Boys but the film was dreadfully slow, the music was not well used AT ALL, the performances were okay at best but I felt like they really lacked power behind them. Despite the singing supposedly being done live on set, several of the performances looked horribly dubbed. I could swear that audio was off their lip movement and that just breaks the entire feel of the film. The film makers do nothing to capture the "gritty" streets of New Jersey and you just don't really get that epic feeling of following an absolute icon of Rock and Roll through various decades. I simply felt as though there was more to be told that I wasn't seeing. I would have rather they focused more on Frankie Valli, although I understand the film is about the four of them. The performances weren't terrible, but rather felt underdeveloped and missing something. Maybe the translation to big screen doesn't work for this story.
Now if I understand correctly, this cast comes heavily from the Broadway adaptation of Jersey Boys. That, to me, is a smart movie under normal circumstances. Still I felt like this cast was struggling to find their place and never quite comfortable on screen in their roles. John Lloyd Young plays Frankie Valli and certainly has the right look and the right voice (if that was his real voice) but I didn't feel like the script gave him enough to really shine. Yes, we understood him as a person but I felt like I wanted more and instead he gives a so-so performance. Vincent Piazza was probably the best in this cast as Tommy DeVito and certainly gets the best story arc and the best scenes because his character is so confrontational and abrasive (in a good way.) The relationship between him and Frankie certainly drives the story and is one of the few reasons this gets even a five from me. Erich Bergen was wasted in the movie and I found his performance stiff and irritating. He was supposed to be this passionate song writer but he seemed so wooden and his emotions were not strong enough to carry the film. He was very disappointing. Even his line delivery felt like he was nervous or something similar. Michael Lomenda had one really good scene and it was a very ironic one. Finally, near the end of the film, tired of feeling back seat to Frankie and Tommy...he erupts into a tirade. This was very true to form because for most of the film I forgot Lomenda existed in his role. He was completely underdeveloped and if it wasn't a film about the "Four Seasons" I would say he was unnecessary and barely a supporting character. Christopher Walken was decent in his small role and certainly added some class and experience to the cast. This was the only role though that I can remember Walken doing where he looked bored and very laid back. Maybe that was just the character. I certainly would never say anything bad about Walken.
I use to be the world's biggest Clint Eastwood fan. I ate up everything I did and I still reluctantly say the man is a brilliant actor in his day and director in his day. Then he embarrassed all his fans during his ridiculous "Political Chair" rant and even before then his career choices have slipped significantly. Invictus was okay, Hereafter was awful, J. Edgar was full of potential and fell completely flat and now Jersey Boys. Its like he's lost his vision creatively. Or his ego gets in the way and he tries to make a story based on truth or other works and completely changes it and it ruins the story. Jersey Boys lacked passion, lacked direction, lacked heavy talent...it just felt like it was missing so many pieces to the puzzle. I would absolutely love to see the stage play to see if I'm correct in assuming they changed the premise enough to ruin why it is so successful on stage. Rock of Ages did the same thing last year by butchering what is an amazing stage play (the best thing I have ever seen) into a so-so movie because some egotistical director thought they could do better. The ending of the film where they aged the actors to play elderly versions of themselves looked ridiculous. The actors looked like high school kids pretending to be old men. This was a huge pass for me and its unfortunate because I absolutely adore stage plays, classic music and life stories like this one. The Jersey Boys film hits all the wrong notes. 5/10