Leave a bad taste in your mouth

Rating: 6/10 (21 December 2007)

This is like "Saw: The Musical".
Don't get me wrong -- I'm not squeamish. Murder + humor + music = fun for me.
I'm a big fan of Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd" -- have seen 2 professional theatrical productions. Couldn't wait to see this movie.
Started to chuckle at "The Worst Pies in London" (which is a very funny song) -- but the laughter dried up when we were shown close-ups of cockroaches. Lots and lots of cockroaches scampering across Mrs. Lovett's filthy countertop. Too realistic.
Dark humor has to be done with a very deft hand. You can't show the murders too clearly. Yet Tim Burton shows us EVERY slit throat, arterial blood pumping and gushing all over the place. Then down the trapdoor it goes and SLAM! lands on its head. He shows this again and again and again....
Well, nobody felt like laughing after that.
Johnny Depp is gloomy and glowering throughout. Not a good showcase for him. If you love Johnny Depp -- well, go rent a "Pirates" movie instead.
This is a very non-fun and depressing movie. And I think popcorn sales will be down. You don't feel like eating for a long while after.