"Rent (2008)" Certainly Ambitious

 

    I am currently writing this review while watching Glee, to let you understand the state of mind I am currently in. One might consider it a good thing, after all it means I'm in the mood to watch people sing, but also you could say I've been oversaturated with music. Look, I'm sure this musical is better on the stage, but I just have to admit, I don't think it's for me. I mean of course I feel a bit bad saying this, I think the fact that it was written about AIDS, during the AIDS crisis is admirable, but as far as musicals go it's a bit all over the place. I mean don't go into this expecting hit songs, the only song I came out really loving or remembering was Seasons of Love. And the only reason I wanted to even watch Rent was because of the cover of Seasons of Love that was in Glee, which I thought was a very touching tribute.

    Look, I could say Rent is about the AIDS crisis, but it's also so much more than that? I think if I had to modify Rent I would probably shorten it, significantly. Look, don't get me wrong, I love musicals, but why is it the norm for musicals to be two hours and thirty minutes long. I will always live by the fact that the longer something is, the harder it has to try in justifying it's run time, and I definitely feel that for Rent. I don't actually hate all of the subplots, they're just kind of interesting, but you reach the end and realize that not much has actually happened, and to achieve anything story wise they just jump ahead in time, and if you aren't constantly paying attention it can feel like it's skipped right past you.

    If I had to describe Rent in terms of it being a musical, it would be less songs turned into a story, and more stories turned into songs. That is to say you won't really have your big showstopper tunes, or those real catchy songs that live beyond the musical they were found in. I mean I enjoyed Seasons of Love, but after that that's about it. I mean not every musical needs catchy songs, but I feel like eventually at some point you have to ask yourself what are your strengths, what is your musical bringing to the table? And sadly, I have to say that when it comes to Rent it feels like it's not sure.

    I mean I enjoyed it enough that I finished it to the very end, it's a very important piece of musical culture, at least to me imo. The fact that it was so queer positive, and the fact that Larson died before it even aired kind of gives it that special legacy status. However, you take all of that away, and judge it solely as a piece of art and you're left wanting more. Look, the best part of Rent is the premise, exploring the AIDS crisis through multiple different storylines in song form sounds interesting on paper, but the execution simply isn't there. Maureen's protest is really, really, painfully awkward, though I applaud anyone who actually manages to perform it. Angel and Tom's relationship barely gets to be shown because Angel dies pretty much as soon as the time skip happens. Benny is their friend but also not, I'm not sure what's up with Maureen's relationship, and it just kind of ends on Mimi not dying and Roger sticking around and Mark also sticking around?

Final Score: 50/100

        It is with a heavy heart that I give this vaunted musical a measly 50. Look, I'm not stubborn, I'm sure if I re-watched it, or watched it in person, or had someone explain to me the importance of the musical my opinion could be swayed. It's just that in terms of being an actual musical it's kind of lacking. I mean I was genuinely invested int his whole AIDS plotline, so I suppose I was a little disappointed when it didn't go much farther story wise with it. Maybe that wasn't important, maybe it was just about love, maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. But hey, I can see where it might appeal for someone, but this time, it just didn't quite land right for me.

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