Who's in It: Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, Will Ferrell, Gary Beach
The Basics: It's based on the Broadway musical that was itself based on Mel Brooks' classic '60s comedy. A hack Broadway producer (Lane) and an accountant (Broderick) seek to profit through failure by creating Springtime for Hitler, a tribute to the Nazi leader. But their plans go wrong when the show is a hit. The movie's plan goes wrong too, as the demented musical within a musical is more entertaining than the film itself.
What's the Deal? Broadway musicals are about big gestures and hammy mugging. If you don't believe me, just watch this movie. The people who made it forgot they weren't on a stage playing to 800 people, and about how they have this thing in movies called a "close-up." So Nathan Lane and Broderick are making all huge with the eyebrow-raising and eyeball-bugging and loud yelling and forehead-sweating, and all you're thinking is, "Dude, I can see right up your nose. All the little hairs and everything."
Stacking Up: Original 1968 movie = Wicked satire, manic energy, taboo-busting humor. Broadway musical version = Satire softened by time, standard issue showtunes add to the mass-appeal factor. Tourists love it. This version = New boring song added for Oscar consideration — otherwise, they stuck a camera in front of the show and added Will Ferrell to bring in "the kids." Oy.
What Year It Is: It seems to be the '50s. This is appropriate, because it's almost all set on a soundstage and looks like it was made 50 years ago, too. That's not a criticism, though — you kind of have to work to make something look that old-fashioned, so they pulled it off.
What's Good About This Mess: Thurman doesn't embarrass herself here, and she looks 9 feet tall compared to the guys. The chorus line of old ladies on walkers is funny. So is the whole production number concerning the absolute domination of Broadway by homosexuals. The rest? Just overly long, sluggish and dull.
Leave Humming Nothing: There's nothing here that's even as catchy as one of the terrible songs from Rent. And that's saying something …