The Producers
Studio: Universal Pictures
Rated: PG-13
Website: http://www.theproducersmovie.com/
Release Date: 2005-12-23
Cast: Will Ferrell, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, Gary Beach
Director: Susan Stroman
Screenwriter: Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan
Music Score: Douglas Besterman, Todd Cooper
WorkNameSort: Producers, The
Our Rating: 3.50
Let’s get the negatives out of the way first: A 134-minute musical comedy is a dumb idea. Choreographer-turned-director Susan Stroman has no idea what to do with a camera, miring the motive potential of her Broadway adaptation in unbearably static medium shots. Oh, and Matthew Broderick has logged so much time playing to the back row that he’s forgotten he doesn’t need to simulate a nuclear meltdown in every scene. Still, this souvenir of the film-turned-stage-hit accomplishes the tough task of getting third-generation laughs, with Nathan Lane’s uproariously sleazy Max Bialystock embodying the enduring appeal of Mel Brooks’ source material. (“Springtime for Hitler” is a delightfully abominable musical-theater concept even by today’s South Park standards.) Broadway holdovers Gary Beach and Roger Bart are note-perfect as a pair of mincing queens, while Uma Thurman, though lacking certain (shall we say) equipment necessary for the role of Swedish secretary Ulla, more than makes up for it with a funny, acrobatic performance that’s a model of commitment. Ja, ja!
This article appears in Dec 21-27, 2005.