Review of Jersey Boys (2014) by Timothy A — 30 Jul 2014

Proof that some stories belong in a certain medium and should stick to what they know. Breaking the fourth wall rarely works as well on screen as on stage, and the decision to pare back some of the songs, presumably to avoid the concert-like feel of the typical jukebox musical, just makes us forget why we're supposed to care who these people are.

Because Frankie Valli is the least interesting character in his own story, the part requires a performer with exceptional charisma, which it doesn't have here. As technically competent as you'd expect from someone who's been at it as long as Eastwood, but the design and colour saturation suggest he has more affection for movies of the 60s and 70s than he has for the era itself.