Again I'm presented with the reviewer's dilemma. Do I judge the film on the execution of its goals? Or do I just tell you what I think? In the former, Chicago excellently translates itself from stage to screen. In the latter, this is some silly, silly stuff.
In the 1920's of the title city, we are introduced to some lovely women. One, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta Jones) was a famous singer and dancer until she went away for murdering her cheating husband. She is joined by Roxie Hart (Rene Zellweger), a less than successful singer who killed her rejecting boyfriend and almost let her naive (see unbelievable stupid) husband take the fall. Only a famous lawyer named Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) has what it takes to keep these women from getting the death penalty. Will he pull the media heartstrings and get them off? Do you really care?
If you're a fan of the staged musical (which I admit to never having scene) then no doubt you will be impressed by this film. And director Rob Marshall's work blending the dramatic scenes with their musical numbers is commendable. But I can't help but notice, despite how entertaining the film is intended to be, just how boring it really is. Maybe this has something to do with the fact that none of the characters are really all that interesting. They all start out as self-centered obnoxious bottom-feeders and all end up pretty much the same way.
The casting is a bit peculiar. Rene Zellweger has given some impressive performances in the past (although most have been as idiots - Nurse Betty and Bridget Jones’ Diary for example), but it's difficult to tell if her complete lack of believability comes from bad acting or an attempt to act like so many people inexplicably do in musicals. In addition, her giant muscular arm veins are a little distracting for a character that should be, in my opinion, softer. Catherine Zeta-Jones is very expressive and totally committed to her role in a way that is at least a little inspiring. But it's a little obvious that she's somebody's mother with her noble child-bearing hips that are totally out of character. Richard Gere, although they keep heaping praise on him, looks totally uncomfortable in a musical. But they all (particular Zeta-Jones) deserve praise for trying really hard to pretend they’re musical performers. The problem with film versions of stage musicals is that they inevitably are cast with non-musical actors for box office reasons. What’s next? Athletes in action movies? Nevermind...
The supporting cast is decent. John C. Reilly's character may have as much depth as rice paper (uh, that's thin) but he does an excellent job as Roxie's husband and probably has the most appealing song (Mr. Cellophane). Queen Latifah also does a good job as “Big Mama” and has proven herself to be an actress unafraid of making bold choices. Taye Diggs is appealing as the announcer of the muscial numbers.
I didn't like most of the songs and, frankly, I think the story is retarded. Women kill people and this is supposed to be cute in some sort of chauvinist way. However, the film is probably about as good as it can be considering the source material. C
