Sort of works, sort of doesn't

Rating: Null/10 (22 April 2010)

Out of all Tim Burtons movies I've seen, Sweeney Todd has to be my least favorite. While everything works perfectly fine, such as the music, cinematography, and casting, there's something off about how all of these elements come together to create a film.
As surprised as I am to say this myself, almost every character in Sweeney Todd is unevenly portrayed. Johnny Depp gives a very bipolar, angsty portrayal of the titular character, appearing raving and bloodthirsty one minute and as a brooding teenager the next. Helena Bonham Carter is so monotonous in this film that she's a pain to watch (and listen to, because by God, her singing voice is nowhere near as good as what I was lead to believe. Neither was Depps's, but more on that later). Johanna, played by Jayne Wisener, gives the film some grace but her acting is sub-par and doesn't offer anything to the viewer. I can only conclude that the most memorable performances come not from our leading actors, but from the supporting cast, such as Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin and Timothy Spall as Beadle. Even Sacha Baron Cohen was more engaging on screen than Depp, even though he has an unfortunately short amount of screen time.
The biggest problem I have with Sweeney Todd is the fact that it's a musical. Don't get me wrong, I adore musicals, but I also think that if a story could be told perfectly well without musical accompaniment, that's the way it should be done. I feel the music in Sweeney Todd distracts the viewer from the tragic story, and it would've been much more interesting if it were just a regular movie. As much as everyone I know loves to go on and on about everyone's singing in this film, I need to put myself out there and say that no one in the movie can actually sing. When I hear the term musical, I expect to see actors who can really sing out of the depths of their hearts, much like in Singin' In The Rain or Phantom of the Opera, because the story is mainly told through music. What I'm not expecting is someone to meekly speak their lines with occasional melody (cough cough, Depp), or whine them in a voice that tells the audience that they're definitely trying, but more practice is needed (cough cough, Bonham Carter). I was also annoyed as Hell at Ed Sanders, who played Tobias. His voice is like nails on a chalkboard.
Overall, Sweeney Todd isn't all bad. It's a fun, Gothic ride we've all come to expect from Tim Burton, who really is a wonderful director who has made amazing films. My final verdict is; yes, see this film. The music is beautiful, the visuals are stunning, and while the acting isn't the best, I've seen a whole lot worse. However, it isn't worth more than a single viewing. After that, all the little things really start to bother you and you've exhausted yourself in trying to enjoy the movie a second time.