Review of Newsies (1992) by Brian S — 17 Jan 2012

Try as it might, this movie just doesn't work. it wants so badly to be a blockbuster musical in the vein of Oliver! or Annie, but it isn't. the characters are cliche and uninteresting, the music is pretty forgettable, the choreography is boring and actually feels very forced, and most of all, the tone of the story just isn't musical material.

a David-and-Goliath story is one thing, but one about unions? and a violent union at that? a compelling drama in the works, maybe, but certainly not a musical and DEFINITELY not a Disney musical. basically this movie boils down to a lot of sugar-coated mediocrity.

hey, at least it's somewhat entertaining.