11:05 AM
ArtsNFashion
Directed
by: Will Gluck
Cast: Jamie
Foxx, Quvenzhane Wallis, Bobby Canavale, Rose Byrne, Cameron Diaz, Adewale
Akinnuoye-Agbaje, cameos by Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Rihanna
Review by James Colt
Harrison
For most of our lives we have been reading
about Little Orphan Annie in comic
strips, beginning in 1924 from author Harold Gray. It has been great fodder for
theatrical productions and films. Not only is the latest Annie from Columbia Pictures with stars Jamie Foxx and little
Quvenzhane Wallis a stunning toe-tapping musical version, but there have been
several other previous films made that
were not as good. Plus, there was the original 1977 hit Broadway musical from
which much of the music comes in the latest version.
The version most people remember is the 1982
Columbia film that starred Albert Finney and Carol Burnett. Aileen Quinn
starred as Annie. That film was directed by the formidable Oscar® winner John
Huston. As we can see, Annie has been
entertaining audiences for decades.
Because the original story and setting (1930s)
was getting a little long in the tooth, the producers felt the show needed a
bit of a re-polishing and updating to appeal to today’s audience’s taste in
music and humor. They brought in British actress Emma Thompson to update the
script and add some much-needed humor. She collaborated on the screenplay with
director Gluck and Aline Brosh McKenna, turning out a script that relied on
bringing out the humorous side of the characters. Jamie Foxx, now called Will
Stacks instead of the time-worn “Daddy Warbucks” uses dead-pan humor to his
advantage. He’s still rich, but he’s a strong billionaire from the 21st
Century now. Foxx is a likeable person in his own right, but he has to play a
somewhat disagreeable man who frequently makes us laugh because of his
seriousness.
The story, of course, remains the classic one
where Annie is sort of “rescued” from the hands of mean and acidic Miss
Hannigan, who runs a home for foster children. Cameron Diaz plays Miss Hannigan
aggressively over the top and exaggerates her every gesture and facial tick.
Overdoing it too much, she should win the Ham Actress Award of the Year.
Stacks saves Annie’s life by saving her from
getting run over by a truck. They bond and Annie becomes the catalyst for
Stacks’ running for New York Mayor. Stack’s slimy campaign manager, played
humorously by handsome Bobby Cannavale, encourages him to use Annie to boost
his polls numbers. Naturally, this complicates their relationship.
The music is tuneful and happy and has been updated
with altered lyrics to today’s rhythms. Kids today can relate to it easily.
It’s toe-tapping even for the adults, who will enjoy hearing favorites “Tomorrow,” “Little Girls,” and this reviewer’s
favorite, “It’s A Hard Knock Life” featuring a new down beat and cadence. The
original music is by Martin Charnin & Charles Strouse with newer songs
written by Greg Kurstin, Sia, and Will Glick.
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1 comments:
It's not a perfect movie, but for as long as it is up on the screen, it's an okay watch. Can't say I expected much else. Good review.
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