Review of Annie (2014) by Frederic C. B — 09 Mar 2015

The Good:

Quvenzhane Wallis' charms steal your attention, and her chemistry with Jamie Foxx is uber sweet. The story modification to the modern-day setting actually works real well and feels natural, especially the use of social media in the third arc. Some of the song performances are charming and pleasant to view, and will get stuck in your head for a while. Contrary to people's doubt and low expectation, this movie is actually pretty entertaining and enjoyable.

The Not-so-Good:

Many of the jokes fall flat. The portrayal of Miss Hannigan feels exaggerated. It seems the director hesitates to go full-on musical, thus many of the song performances feel awkward, especially with the actors' lack of ability to believably lypsync to their own songs. The new songs and the classic ones don't quite gel with one another, giving a sense that there are two worlds inhabiting the movie. The omission of one or two classics, along with revised version of those songs might not work well for those who are expecting a movie akin to the original. Cameos of actors from the 1982 movie would've been a great addition.