South Park Does Sondheim

Rating: 4/10 (9 April 2008)

I saw the Angela Lansbury version on PBS more than 20 years ago and was blown away. I think I've been two one professional play in my life. No fan... but this was Rock and Roll! So here comes the Hollywood movie version and they give it to Tim Burton. What a perfect fit. Well, then again, maybe not.
It gets off to a good start. Nice mood and art direction and singing and all that. But Deep really blows the "My Friend/ Now I am one" song. Doesn't compare with the George Hearn. In fact, as things progress, he is nowhere as sympathetic as Hearn portrays the Demon Barber.
And then the killing starts. And its like South Park blood. And corpses falling on their heads and flopping on their necks. Like Trey Parker and Matt Stone took over directing duties. Over and over again. Every killing never fails to show the bodies falling on their heads or necks.
Some nice moments (Nellie's seduction of Sweeney, his death) stand in stark contrast to the over-the-top ones. Pretty much a seesaw experience. Nothing gripping.