The medium is the message

Rating: 7/10 (10 May 2005)

Impossible to judge the movie's efficacy after watching the vastly improved musical (which I'd give a 9). Brooks cleaned up the story arcs, added more hilarious numbers and, most importantly, got Ula on stage longer. It will be interesting to see how the new movie-based- on-a-musical-that-was-based-on-a-movie will fare. This is a brilliant premise that, since it is about a stage production, probably translates better to the stage. But funny is funny, and this is funny, although it could do with less yelling and mugging. Especially underwhelming is Gene Wilder's performance, which is just schtick. Wilder is usually golden, but the material here is so good, it doesn't need all the bells and whistles he provides.