Not All It's Cracked Up To Be

Rating: 6/10 (1 March 2008)

I hate to say it, but I just don't understand all the hype about this movie. It has a good cast and great production values, including gorgeous color, but to me, it was just a "pleasant" movie -- not all that funny, and with only a couple of memorable dance numbers: The "Singin' In the Rain" number by Gene Kelly, and the terrific segment with the fantastically talented and sensuous Cyd Charisse. Why she didn't become a bigger star than she was, I'll never understand. Nothing against the also-talented and versatile Debbie Reynolds, but I would like to have seen less of Debbie and a lot more of Cyd. Maybe this is just a movie that hasn't worn well over the years, but to me, it's greatly overrated. All that being said, it's good family-type entertainment, and they couldn't make a musical like this today. Multi-talented performers like these are gone forever.