Review of The Wiz (1978) by Byron B — 23 Apr 2016
I finally popped this into my VHS player in preparation for watching The Wiz Live on TV recently. Joel Schumacher adapted the stage musical for the screen. And Sidney Lumet transferred the story to his beloved New York.
Fantasy within a gritty city. Diana Ross and Michael Jackson put a good bit of enthusiasm into their roles. The musical numbers on the whole just don't grab hold. Richard Pryor was an awful casting choice for the humbug Wiz and glamorous Lena Horne gives a garish, campy performance that together make the ending fizzle.
This review of The Wiz (1978) was written by Byron B on 23 Apr 2016.
The Wiz has generally received mixed reviews.
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