Review of Burlesque (2010) by Max B — 14 Feb 2013

At best 'Burlesque' could've worked as an OK 'Moulin Rouge' clone. At worse it could have been an insultingly clichéd 'Moulin Rouge' clone. Guess which one 'Burlesque' ended up as?

Pop star Christina Aguleria delivers a surprisingly strong performance to accompany her ear-drum destroying voice. Her newly-found acting talent is wasted however by the unimaginative script. At times the dialogue can be punchy (as intended), but mostly it is painfully forced.

I disagree with one critic whom stated that Cher's performance was far too static. Cher is actually given some of the best lines, and her chemistry with her divorced husband/lover/not-lover/gay friend/the movie doesn't know is by far the most genuine part of the movie. Her lack of expression (caused by extensive surgery) works somewhat in her characters favour, although Meryl Streep she is not...

Technically, its a low budget 'Moulin Rouge'. Like the aforementioned revival of the musical genre, however, beyond the well-done production design, there is nothing else. The plot is moronically derivative. As soon as a character walks in you can predict exactly where they will end up by the end and every singly thing they will do in the meantime. My criticism can be boiled down to the oft-used phrase: "It's all been done before and much better".

Its one of those films that will be forgotten in a heartbeat - because its exactly like every single other movie that is forgotten in a heartbeat...