Burlesque DVD
Starring: Christina Aguilera, Cher, Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet
Director: Steve Antin
Rating: 2/5
It seems that Hollywood just doesn't tire of these dance movies - I appreciate that Burlesque dancing is a new take on things - but the same old movie keeps on being dragged out time and time again.
And, sadly, despite a fabulous line up this movie really is no different - it's exactly like Make It Happen just bigger.
Ali (Aguilera) is a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to LA.
After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theatre that is home to an inspired musical revue, Ali lands a job as a cocktail waitress from Tess (Cher), the club's proprietor and headliner.
Burlesque's outrageous costumes and bold choreography enrapture the young ingenue, who vows to perform there one day.
Soon enough, Ali builds a friendship with a featured dancer (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer (Kristen Bell), and garners the affection of Jack (Gigandet), a bartender and fellow musician.
With the help of a sharp-witted stage manager (Stanley Tucci) and gender-bending host (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage.
Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, though not before a charismatic entrepreneur (Eric Dane) arrives with an enticing proposal...
If this was the first time that we had seen this story then maybe I would look upon it more kindly, but it's like half a dozen movies that have gone before it.
The main problem with this movie is it's boring... really, really dull! And so predictable the end is predictable, the relationship between Ali & Jack is predictable and the rivalry between Ali and Nikki just bubbles under the surface without ever being really explored.
With Burlesque, Aguilera is making her big screen debut - but there appears to be very little acting involved as she just plays herself.
The music in the movie is great, there's no doubt that Aguilera has a good set of pipes on her, but her singing on stage for most of the film is not my idea of great entertainment.
Sadly Burlesque is not the risque and exciting movie that it promised to be but instead it collapses under cliche after cliche - very disappointing.
Burlesque is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw