Movie Review: The Producers (2005)

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Memorable performances by a talented cast, some funny scenes

Cons: Songs only ok, dance numbers needed more creativity, too much sexual humor

The Bottom Line:

A talented cast

In a funny musical

Wish it were better

"Stop the World.  I Want to Get on!"

Max Bialystock (Nathan Lane) is a down on his luck producer who hasn't had a Broadway hit in years. In fact, they've made a special sign for him so that they can flip it over and turn opening night into closing night with hardly any effort.

After his latest show collapses, accountant Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick) comes to Max's office/apartment to go over the books. In an off handed comment, Leo mentions that a great way to make money would be to put on a guaranteed flop, raise lots of money, and they keep the difference. Max immediately jumps on the idea, but Leo wants no part in the criminal plan. Eventually, however, Leo's desire to be a Broadway producer gets the better of him, and he partners with Max.

The two are certain they've found the perfect piece when they read "Springtime for Hitler," a piece that makes the evil dictator out to be a nice guy. Getting the Nazi loving author (Will Ferrell) on board is a bit of a challenge, as is signing Roger De Bris (Gary Beach), the worst director in town, and his male harem. Now they just need to sit back, relax, and watch the money roll in. Right?

I should have known what I was getting into before I saw this movie. It is a Mel Brooks story, and he seems to go for the sex joke any chance he gets. I was tired of them long before the movie reached the half way point. Some scenes also went on way after the last sexual joke had been milked from the situation.

The story itself is very entertaining. I never could decide if I wanted Max and Leo to be caught or get away with their crime. There were lots of scenes I found amusing, but I was rolling at the scene near the end where everyone reacts to the play's opening night.

The actors all do amazing jobs with the rolls. Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick originated their rolls when the story became a Broadway musical, and their familiarity with the material is an asset. Will Ferrell, not part of the Broadway cast, is hilarious as the politically motivated author. He steals most every scene he is in. Uma Thurman is simply amazing as Ulla, the secretary/starlet/Leo's girlfriend. I had no clue who was playing her until the credits.

The songs in this musical are fun, but there is nothing here particularly catchy. I didn't find myself leaving the theater humming anything, and there was nothing special that caught my ear that made me want to go out and buy the soundtrack.

Susan Stroman, who did the choreography for the Broadway version, directs the movie. She also did the choreography here. And there in lies the problem. While a few of the numbers near the beginning show some creativity, most of them fall into the stage trap. They look like a dance routine created for the stage version of the show but filmed for the big screen. Of course, not every song needs to involve many locations, but this film began to become trapped by its sets in the second half, and an inventive musical number would have gone a long way toward saving it.

Even leaving my distaste for much of the humor aside, The Producers falls short of what it could have been. A little more creativity could have made this movie rise to the level of the performances the actors gave.