Review of film: “BURLESQUE” ( with CHER & CHRISTINA AGUILERA )

Review of film:  “BURLESQUE”

It’s a TOUGH economy out there for “everyday” people.  Things become especially hard when your small-town employer won’t even pay the salary he owes you.  That situation causes Iowa waitress Ali Rose (CHRISTINA AGUILERA) to leave her job & head west to California…

…  Christina doesn’t have much success in her “Golden-state” job-seeking.  She chances to pass by a somewhat rundown place called the Burlesque Lounge & heads inside.  There, she sees an impressive performance by owner Tess (CHER) who sings up a storm as she’s surrounded by a bunch of burly-Q dancers including Nikki (KRISTIN BELL), Georgia (JULIANNE HOUGH), Brittany (KATERINA MIKAILENKO), Marla (WENDY BENSON-LANDES) & Scarlett (TANEE McCALL)…

…  Christina (being from the “prim & proper” Midwest) had never seen such a live performance, & wants to become PART of the show.  But, having no real experience, Cher & her ex-husband co-owner partner Vince Scali (PETER GALLAGHER) don’t care to hire her.  But, she talks to cute bartender Jack (CAM GIGANDET) & he helps get her a WAITRESS job there….

…  As she “waits”, Christina “watches” & learns the various lip-synched routines done by the dancers (including to Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend”)…  Outside of jealous Kristin, she’s liked by everyone at the lounge, including club manager Sean (STANLEY TUCCI) & Emcee Alexis (ALAN CUMMING)… 

…  When her rented room is ransacked, she moves in with frustrated song-writer Cam who’s a good-hearted guy…  The club is periodically visited by Marcus Gerber (ERIC DANE) who has a secret “agenda” in wanting to buy Cher’s Lounge.  When one of the dancing girls is unable to perform, CHRISTINA convinces Cher to let her join the group… 

…  As fate (& the plot) would have it, she eventually gets a chance to really SING (rather than lip-sync), displays a powerful voice, & becomes a STAR at the club…  Meanwhile, there are various sub-plots --  including growing closer with Cam and Eric, financial and relationship problems between various of the characters, etc…

…  Will Christina be able to get what she really WANTS out of life?...  Will Cher be able to avoid the ECONOMIC problems that are descending on the Club?...  Will there be positive ROMANTIC conclusions for the various characters?...

...  Elements of this film have certainly been seen BEFORE--  from Bob Fosse’s “All That Jazz”, the movie “Chicago”, “Nine”, etc.  But, what really counts is how SUCCESSFUL the “links” are, & this film really SUCCEEDS at what it attempts to do:

…  There’s an stirring & enjoyable ENERGY to the whole production, with loads of impressively-staged singing & dancing routines.  Some of the numbers may not stick in your mind as being particularly “hummable”, but they’re designed to be utilized to “propel” the general Burlesque mood & tone & “plot” rather than be romantic “love” songs or the like…       

…  Thus, because of the fine casting & acting, plus the very effective & pleasurable dancing & singing, I’m rating this 8.5 of 10 stars…