By Mr. Will Wong
Just when you think you’ve seen Ryan Murphy do it all, he does it again and flashier than ever! THE PROM is an Adaptation of Matthew Sklar‘s Broadway Musical of the same name, directed by Murphy and here right in time for the Holidays. This sequined and spirited affair will have its audience on its feet at a time we need it more than ever!
The star-studded romp centers on Broadway stars Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (James Corden) who see their latest venture flop. To drum-up some good publicity again, they along with fellow struggling Actors Angie Dickinson (Nicole Kidman) and Trent Oliver (Andrew Rannells) head to a small town in Indiana, protesting the banning of a same-sex couple Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman) and Alyssa (Ariana DeBose) being allowed to attend prom together. Despite the school’s principal (Keegan-Michael Key) being in full support of the prom, opposing forces, led by Alyssa‘s mom (Kerri Washington) and the PTA go to great lengths to stop this prom for happening. Will Emma and Alyssa get to go to prom together or will regressive institutionalized fear (aka the state of America today) hold them back?
THE PROM is none short of charm. It is a delight seeing Streep have a blast with her role, fully aware of Dee Dee‘s self-absorbedness and vocally she has never sounded better getting many chances to shine and also take Dee Dee on a journey to grow. Key is a great surprise as her love interest and adoring fan, giving us a side of his talent we’ve never seen. Supporting characters all have their own story and Corden is dazzling. We love that Barry‘s story isn’t spared here and Kidman is fantastic as an Actress still waiting for her big break, getting her own Fosse-inspired moment. Newcomer Pellman makes a great Feature debut as well, holding her own against this Cast of heavyweights!
This was such an incredibly-fun watch with smashing Choreography (Casey Nicholaw), uplifting catchy numbers and gorgeous, shiny Art Direction. We must single-out the fantastic Cinematography by Matthew Libatique, who captured those dance and concert sequences so beautifully in Black Swan and A Star is Born. THE PROM has an in-your-face way of something to say about inclusion and we are here for it!
THE PROM arrives on Netflix Friday, December 11, 2020.
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