Fresh, funny, fizzy...but not the classic everyone is making out

Rating: 8/10 (14 January 2017)

You would think, considering the almost hysterically positive reviews, that the new Citizen Kane had been released with La La Land!
I very much liked this film, a toe-tapping, sun-drenched, thoroughly entertaining ode to the musicals of yesteryear with a modern twist in the inventive dance numbers and slyly adult song lyrics.
Ryan Gosling and (particularly) Emma Stone are on ripe, breezy, fun form and clearly relish playing opposite each other.
The photography and lighting are stunning, showing off the varied colour schemes throughout.
I just felt a better, more subtle marriage of the light musical and heavy dramatic moments was needed to meld all the wonderful elements together.