Original, fun and surprising. But does it need to be a musical?

Rating: 7/10 (15 January 2017)

I must admit that musicals are not my choice of genre but I went into this with an open view. Given its feedback I had high expectations despite not being my usual cup of tea but must admit that throughout the majority of the film I wasn't blown away. It was quirky and fun and both Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling were great (as expected) but the first act was drawn out and it didn't do much to distinguish itself from any other romance film. The opening sequence was also far too High School Musical/Glee for my taste and I found it hard to take to seriously after this. That being said it recovered well and actually the end sequence was a pleasant surprise and done in spectacular fashion. Whereas the observatory scene seemed out of place when the pair began flying through the room, the dream-sequence at the end was a great way of emphasizing the passion of their relationship and really hit the spot as it left viewers knowing what could have been. It was also refreshing to see a film of this genre wrap up without the cliché, go-to happy ending.
But the biggest feeling that I was left with after leaving the cinema was whether it needed to be a musical? Obviously the intention was to be a musical but I feel the film would have been just as much a success without the few, average songs. The songs really did not stand out and bring much to the film other than break up its flow and I would be surprised if any are remembered ten years down the line. This was certainly no Grease or Moulin Rouge but is almost as good a film for the reasons beyond the music.
Again this is just my view and is probably so because its not my typical genre but I would be intrigued to see what others think of whether this movie took the best direction it could.