★★ The Producers (2005)

[Gino: 2.0, TwoShoes: 1.5]

Gino says:"(1) I am not a big fan of Broadway musicals, I guess, even though I gather this was a big hit (and even though I work on Broadway!) (2) I think plays in general loose a lot when translated to film. I tend to like plays when I see them in a theater, but I think it is the intemacy of being in the same room as the performers that adds something almost essential to the experience. When you remove that, and have to synch soundtracks, etc., you loose a lot. (3) Mathhew Broderick is ok, but he is not Gene Wilder. (4) While I like the idea of The Producers I remember even being disappointed in the original (1968 Mel Brooks) film. Sorry, I know it is a favorite of some of you. Nathan Lane, I will say, is his usual entertaining self, and the film looks pretty good.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention: I know that Mel Brooks is now 487 years old, but I think we're done with the 'flagrant homosexuals are hilarious' thing, aren't we? Spoiler: An example that Twoshoes mentioned: the audience (in the film) is appalled at seeing Hitler up on stage, and they start to walk out, until that is, they find out that he is being played by a flamingly gay guy, at which point they love the show. Ok. Kinda funny. Until you really think about it."