Review of Little Shop of Horrors (1986) by Jason D — 01 Nov 2009

I have the great pleasure of being one of those weird eccentrics who loves his horror/sci-fi themed movies, as well as musicals with dance numbers and such. Before these types of films hit it big (i.e.

Repo: The Genetic Opera, Sweeney Todd, The Corpse Bride), there was a small 80's remake of Little Shop of Horrors, a story about young Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis in a role that he was PERFECT for), where he works at a rundown flower shop on skid row, the slums of the big city.

Aided by his boss, Vincent Gardenia and hot little number Audrey (Ellen Greene; also great in this), Seymour comes across a strange plant that pops up out of nowhere during a full eclipse that starts making the flower shop boom with business and success.

Things get troublesome for Seymour as he starts to realize that the plant can't live without blood, which he gives it, causes it to grow bigger and bigger and bigger until it starts doing its own amusing song numbers and requiring much more than blood.

This musical is nothing short of spectacular, with rousing dance and musical numbers by the core cast (and complimented greatly by sassy, back-up singers Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, both of Martin fame, and Michelle Weeks), including the alien plant, voiced perfectly by late Four Tops singer Levi Stubbs.

We are also graced with a bevy of great, comical cameos from the likes of Steve Martin (a sadist dentist), Bill Murray, Jim Belushi, Christopher Guest, and John Candy. Without a doubt, Little Shop of Horrors is my all-time favorite musical.

Grease wishes it could be this damn good.