"And the Loser is....long pause.....Gimme the Envelope, Warren.....'La La Land!'"

Rating: Null/10 (29 April 2017)

"La La Land" has obviously resonated with film-goers. With a $30 million budget, the film has taken in over $440 million in international box office receipts. But the question that must be asked how does "La La Land" compare with other film musicals? Arguably, the answer is: not very well.
One of the joys of the older musicals is the ability to enjoy watching Judy Garlands films over and over. It would be difficult to avoid using the fast forward clicker in a reviewing of "La La Land." In the tradition of the multiple film versions of "A Star is Born," the musicals would also offer a social commentary on the insider world of Hollywood. Indeed, that is the goal of "La La Land," which seems to suggest that one can live out one's dreams in Hollywood, but it might take a toll on one's personal life. What a difference this is from the serious and indeed tragic tone in "A Star is Born," especially in the Judy Garland-James Mason version.
Another major shortcoming of "La La Land" was in the music. While there were several nice songs, it was painfully apparent that Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone did not have much range in their voices. Much of the pacing of the film was labored, and the narrative never made clear why Sebastian and Mia drifted apart at the precise moment when they were on the threshold of success in their careers.
The heart and soul of "La La Land" was in the romance. Yet the chemistry between Gosling and Stone was not terrific. And it was never made clear precisely when the characters fell in love. Sebastian was extremely callous to Mia when she was about to give him a compliment after a song he played in the restaurant. The filmmakers had the obligation to make the relationship believable and organic. One of the taglines of the characters came in describing "the mess we make." But parts of this film were also a bit messy.
"La La Land" was clearly intended as a romantic fable. One underrated musical fantasy that might be just as good is Francis Ford Coppola's "One From the Heart" (1981) that had more depth and imagination than "La La Land."