Review of La La Land (2016) by Brent_Marchant — 24 Dec 2016

It's been said "They don't make musicals like this any more," and hopefully they won't in the future, either. Director Damien Chazelle's big budget overlong, cliched production provides a showcase for his potentially stellar filmmaking abilities, but its largely forgettable soundtrack, plodding pacing and lack of viewer emotional engagement doom it to unending mediocrity that will likely have you checking your watch in anticipation of its long-awaited conclusion (as it did with me).

Granted, the film is technically brilliant and nice to look at and features fine performances, singing and dancing. But its unoriginal story line, all-too-obvious thematic elements, underwhelming humor and inability to get viewers to feel much of anything for its protagonists undermine whatever goodwill is earned by its few strengths.

This one's a reach that tries way too hard and never really satisfies.