Found my way upstairs and had a smoke
Watched the movie musical version of Reefer Madness on Showtime.
Alan Cumming has fun in multiple roles and Christian “brother of Neve” Campbell does a nice line in wholesome, healthy American kid corrupted by the reefer. His sister makes the most of her one-scene cameo as the (singing, dancing) proprietess of a soda shop. Though I never would have called Neve Campbell one of my favorite actresses, she has that movie-star thing going on.
The songs seem unlikely to linger in the brain, though, but the musical numbers are well-choregraphed and performed. Veronica Mars fans (of the straight boy and lesbian variety) will enjoy seeing that show’s star Kristen Bell alternating between fetish gear and a white bra in a fantasy scene, but she deserves applause for her singing, too.
On an episode of Mars a few months ago Bell performed Karaoke, at which time I wrote this in another fourm:
“One of the things I liked about the Karaoke scene is that they kept it in character. They didn’t make Veronica into someone who can suddenly sing at a professional level, but someone who can certainly carry a tune and puts the rest of the song over with ‘acting’. I think, though I’m not sure, that Kirsten Bell can actually sing better than that, which makes me even more impressed with her performance. It’s hard for someone who knows how to do something well to do it less-so on purpose.”
Madness proves me right about Bell’s singing abilities.
It’s probably best enjoyed as an homage to rock musicals of the ’70s and ’80s. The makers give little winks to the genre with songs and/or images that are apparent nods to the likes of Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Xanadu and Little Shop Of Horrors.
On that level, it’s quite enjoyable, and somewhere, some 15 or 16 year old kids are probably viewing it as a revelation. Unfortunately, it also wants to make a satiric point, and on that level it’s not in the same class as your average good, early episode of The Simpsons.
Still, it avoids most of the pitfalls of the “Let’s make a midnight movie deliberately” genre and the participants seem to be enjoying themselves. I’d suggest you check it out if you’re a fan of any of the performers involved, or just like the genre. But don’t come expecting the new Cradle Will Rock or anything.
