I think I watched Carry on Moulin Rouge

Rating: Null/10 (23 September 2001)

Mmmm. Moulin Rouge. Reading the rave reviews for this film starring Ewan McGregor and the lovely Nicole Kidman doesn't really prepare you for whats ahead. "Fantastic, brilliant, a must see" are the sort of things said about this film. So whats it all about then. Well, basically its a love story, boy meets girl, boy loses girl etc etc. It starts off loudly with lots of dazzling lights, and for the first 15 minutes its a bit hard to know what the hell is going on. But then you hear a song you know and you get into the swing of it. Before you know it youve got Elton John or George Benson in wonderful Dolby Stereo (so im informed). But heres the first disappointing bit: I like Elton and Georges songs, but feel that they perform them best, and with the best will in the world Ewan McGregor is not in their league. Not a bad actor, but a singer? Oooh, I think not.

When I first saw the reviews for this film there was one word that stuck in my mind: Erotic. Im now thinking Nicole Kidman plus erotic equals worth £6 of anybodies money. And I feel a bit cheated. Where was the naughty bits that I had been promised? 2 hours of Nicole and not a jot. Oh well, perhaps next time.
So what did I think of the film overall. Well, to be honest, Im not sure. It reminded me of a cross between a Benny Hill sketch, a Carry on film and an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical (not bad then I hear you say). Admittedly it didnt help that the cinema was so packed I had to sit nearer to the front than is decent. This from a man who has to hold the newspaper at arms length to read it. I also found that I watched most of the film with my mouth open, either in awe or disbelief, I'm not sure. When the credits rolled at the end I looked at my fellow film goers and they, too, had their mouths open. And for a few moments we all sat there in silence.

I cant say I didnt like the film (I've been humming the tunes for days. But that I think is the problem. It wasn't original, and I feel that I could have sat at home with the CD player on and enjoyed myself just as much, with the REAL Elton and George for company.