Blah Blah Land

Rating: 6/10 (26 June 2017)

Plot; An aspiring actress and a struggling jazz musician try to balance their burgeoning love with chasing their dreams.
I should preface this review by saying that as a rule, I don't like musicals. That makes me a less than ideal candidate for this breathlessly praised Oscar winner, but I felt an itch to see what all the hype was about.
La La Land is certainly pretty to look at. Having only just passingly watched the trailers, I'd assumed it was a period piece. Imagine my surprise a minute in when a group of Prius driving Los Angelinos break into song on the highway. It's a contemporary setting shot in a classic style, and it helps to soften the modern edges and give it a golden age feel. The Los Angeles board of tourism should send writer/director Damien Chazelle some flowers. Unfortunately the musical numbers, the beating heart of any musical, are very weak. By their very nature, such songs are typically right on the nose "I'm in love!" "I'm sad!", but they're also supposed to be tuneful, and the numbers here barely pass muster (What does it say when I found the intentionally wonky covers of 80s new wave tunes to be far and away the best songs in the movie?). The accompanying dance numbers are reasonably well done and help to lift the scenes, but they never quite soar or have that buoying quality because of the music. Music aside, the film rests on the shoulders of its two principle stars, and they're up to the task; Particularly Emma Stone. I quite like Ryan Gosling, who always brings a little refreshing quirk to his roles, and he's fine here, but his character isn't very interesting and the movie flat lines when he's on screen without Stone. The latter is the real star, and what works does so mostly thanks to her.
Again, this isn't a movie in my wheelhouse, so take the above with a giant grain of salt. I appreciated some things, enjoyed a few others, but La La Land didn't dance its way into my heart.