Burlesque the Movie: Definitely a chick flick about chasing your dream, grabbing your dream, and hanging on to your dream.
If you need a fun diversion for 100 minutes, Burlesque is the movie for you. If you’re looking for a movie with a fresh story, psychological insight into the human condition, or a mind-expanding experience, skip it.
You attend this movie for the singing, dancing, costumes/fashion, and set design—not the predictable narrative and cliched characters.
Or, if you want to see how great Cher looks and sounds, it’s worth the price of admission.
I enjoyed Burlesque. Not just because I love Cher (in everything she does!). Surprisingly, I enjoyed Christina Aguilera, too. I didn’t really have much of an opinion about her as an entertainer before—I think because I couldn’t get past the awful platinum hair color and over-the-top make-up. (Hey, we all have our meow moments.) Xtina is one heck of a singer and a decent actress in the role of Ali (the sweet and talented girl who goes to the Big City to hit the big time). I’m a fan (with a little “f.”) now.
Christina Aguilera in Burlesque, as Ali Rose, the good-hearted Iowa farm girl turned good-hearted glamorous show girl.
I liked the song and dance numbers. In general, I hate musicals (like Dream Girls, Rent, Les Miserables, The Producers, etc.) but Burlesque is more along the lines of Chicago (the opening scene with Catherine Zeta-Jones singing “All That Jazz”) and a tad like the can-can dance number in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge.
But you don’t want to go there—as comparing Burlesque to Moulin Rouge is like comparing your average high school glee club to the TV show Glee—i.e., no comparison.
And speaking of Glee, I would have liked to have seen someone more interesting and hearth-throb-ish, like Matthew Morrison, play the part of Jack, Ali’s love interest. Mr. Morrison could have performed a dandy song and dance routine for Ali—dancing around their apartment in a towel. (The other actor in a towel didn’t do it for me.)
One complaint about the movie is the dark lighting—I guess to set the mood of a campy basement burlesque club. As a result, I didn’t recognize Julianne Hough (in a brunette wig) until halfway through the movie. I didn’t recognize a character named Natalie at all—who after I read the credits at the end, turned out to be “Quinn,” a Cheerio from Glee.
Another complaint: Kristen Bell as Nikki, Ali’s competition, was wasted in the stereotypical role of losing-her-luster alcoholic performer—with no motivation for her surly behavior (or maybe it was the lame dialogue she had to utter?) She also wore a dark brown wig, which diminished her attractiveness. Kristen Bell deserves better (like Veronica Mars!).
Last complaint: the jumpy and sometimes too-fast editing. For instance, the audience barely got two seconds to gaze at the Louboutin shoes in the movie.
How incredible are these Louboutin shoes worn in the movie?!
Note to director: If you can give Alan Cumming his own song/dance routine, you can give the ladies a five-second close-up of the outstanding gold floral sparkly shoes. Sheesh.
Stanley Tucci has a supporting role as Sean, the mother hen stage manager, in Burlesque.
Also to note: Stanley Tucci turns in another believable and heartfelt performance. He’s not quite as fab as he was in his role in The Devil Wears Prada, but close enough.
Cher’s two singing numbers are terrific, especially the ballad near the end called “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me.” (I sure hope not!) It’s just Cher with a chair on a dark stage, in a black form-fitting outfit with thigh-high boots, and her sultry voice. Nicely done.
Also enjoyable, here’s Cher’s performance at the beginning of the movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-q6xSwuwRM&feature=channel
My favorite Christina number is the opening song of the movie called “Something’s Got a Hold of Me”—an Etta James song that Xtina does proud.
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3689874969/
Movie review recap of Burlesque: Great singing, great dancing, good acting, hackneyed plot, dopey dialogue = three out of five stars.
P.S. One last comment about Christina Aguilera’s hair. I think she is much prettier with less make-up and a more natural shade of blonde than the Jean Harlow platinum hairdo.
Christina Aguilera in a scene from Burlesque with a more flattering hair color.
Christina's regular hair color. Betty Beautician says this shade is too harsh for her.
Jean Harlow - Movie Star sex symbol from the 1930s - the original platinum-haired Hollywood bombshell.
Christina chaneling Jean.
Gwen Stefani - the other platinum-haired singer.
hey there, there was a song in burlesque sung by a young female during one of the scenes. it wasn’t cher/christina. it was background music to a scene in the movie. no one was pictured singing it. voice sounded familiar… im racking my brain trying to figure it out. you seem to know the movie very well…do you have an idea of the artist.
Hi Jamie Lynn -
Here are the songs played in the movie that didn’t make it on the official soundtrack to Burlesque:
- Mazzy Star: “Fade Into You”
- Madonna: “Ray of Light”
- Boston: “More Than a Feeling”
- Marilyn Monroe: “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”
- Miranda Lambert: “Making Plans”
- Keri Hilson: “Knock You Down”
- Dinah Washington: “Long John Blues”
HTH.
OMGEEEEEEE Thank U Thank U Thank U!!! i have been going crazy trying to find out info on song by Mazzy Star “Fade Into You” but all websites would only give me the soundtrack!!!!!! Thank you for posting this!!!!
Know where a girl can purchase the mid-calf lace up cancan boots many of the dancers are wearing? Also the knee boots C.A wears during “Express”?
Thanks
Jessica Simpson makes a boot called Mitton that is almost exactly like the ones Xtina wears in that scene. There are lots of over-the-knee boots on Zappos
and a pair of wicked Manolo Blahnik boots at Neiman Marcus — that lace up the side — and sell for $1,995 (yikes!) but are way cool.
A website called dancex.com sells real dancing shoes. There’s a pair called Moulin Rogue can-can boots — lace-up ankle boots with medium-high heels.
Have you ever seen the ankle booties Xtina wears in the Rolling Stones’ documentary “Shine A Light” when singing a duet with Mick Jagger? Love them.
On endless.com there’s a Victorian-style floral brocade lace-up boot called “Lolas Dream Boot” — made by Poetic License — if you like that sort of fussy vintage look (like I do!).
Good luck with your search.