"Chicago" A Musical That Fails At Music

 

    Look, don't get me wrong, I've watched this movie a couple of times, I appreciate just how much of a spectacle is. But ultimately, I think that there's one fatal flaw to this film, and that is as a musical, the songs just aren't that catchy. I think some of the songs are fine, like Roxie, Mr. Cellophane, or Cell Block Tango, but unlike some of my favourite musicals, I would never listen to any of these songs outside of this movie. I suppose part of it is the cabaret style, it's kind of old fashioned and most of them are slow, so I don't think it's doing the songs any sort of favours. But by that same token it could still work, just look at parts of A Fever You Can't Sweat Out by Panic! At The Disco. Sure there's a lot of nostalgia fueling my love for it, but it genuinely does have some good songs in that cabaret sort of style.

    I'd give this musical a longer review, but I think it would be forced. Am I being a bit unfair thinking that the songs dictate how good a musical can be? Yeah, I suppose a little bit, after all I think this movie is worth at least one watch even if you don't like musicals, but the music should be the make or break factor. I suppose one blessing is that unlike most musicals, this one doesn't span the 2 hours and a half that many do. I think if it dragged on much longer with these sort of songs, I'd have a much harder time stomaching it all. Though, I suppose a counterargument would be that it could help smooth out the odd pacing issues with this movie. I don't think movies need a million different things to happen at once, but I also do think that this movie spends so much time pre-trial, and then hardly any time during the actual trial or post-trial. Like, once Roxie becomes super famous by announcing her pregnancy, it's basically just a bunch of songs talking about what they're going to do once she comes out, but hardly any once she's actually out. Ultimately, what it creates is a spectacle that I never became too invested in, because sure while it looked nice, I would have appreciated it so much more if I enjoyed the story or songs attached to them

Final Score: 60/100

    I'd say if you enjoy musicals, or want to become a musical fan, this is definitely a movie just to check out, even if it's only once to never touch again. If you don't like musicals then you definitely won't enjoy this one, I mean I'm supposed to like them and I don't even watch this musical for being a musical. I'm not surprised this movie won multiple awards though, including best picture, it's just that I think this movie fundamentally fails as a musical for me. How can you be a good musical if none of the songs really pop or wow the crowd? Spectacle only gets you so far, even Cats of all musicals understood this. Memory is supposed to be the showstopper, in whatever weird, furry, fetish-filled world that musical lives in, and it works because it's great and it really touches audiences. Chicago has none of that, but it's impressive nonetheless. It's just that if that's not hitting for you like it did for me, I'm just not sure how much this musical will offer you, because spectacle can only do much when you really aren't enjoying anything else.

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