This review is brought to you by Kathy Kaiser
THE PROM – Rated PG-13 – 2 hrs. 10 mins.
DIRECTOR: Ryan Murphy
WRITERS: Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin (Book /Screenplay), Based on the original concept by Jack Viertel
STARRING: Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, Keegan Michael-Key, Kerry Washington, Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose
As their careers implode as a result of their latest critically bashed Broadway Show, ELEANOR!, Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep), and Barry Glickman (James Corden), find that if their careers on the world’s biggest stage are to survive, they are going to have to muster up some fabulous new Public Relations endeavor, proving to the world how special they, and their talents truly are…
When Angie Dickinson (Nicole Kidman) happens upon a tragic story of an Indiana PTA gone awry, it seems that a few of those Hoosiers are denying Senior Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman) her dream of going to Senior Prom with her girlfriend, Alyssa Greene (Ariana DeBose), prompting Dee Dee and Barry to take on the task of making sure that poor Emma doesn’t suffer any more…
Hell bent on saving this young girl’s dream, they snatch up fellow Thespian Trent Oliver (Andrew Rannells), who’s traveling road show of GODSPELL just happens to be headed out on the road too, as they all venture to the hubs of the Midwest, leaving Broadway behind…
Upon arrival in this sleepy little town, that apparently has no vision of what’s happening in the world outside Indiana, it seems that our weary travelers are in luck, when Principal Hawkins (Keegan-Michael Key) shares that he is a “BIG FAN” of miss Dee Dee, and her repertoire of work. Invigorated by her new, adorable fan, Dee Dee, Barry, Angie and Trent set out to right this malicious wrongdoing, in order to give Emma, the Prom she so rightfully deserves! But even though Mr. Hawkins doesn’t have a problem with Dee Dee and her pals jumping in to rectify this situation, the President of the PTA, Mrs. Greene (Kerry Washington) sure does, as she strives to figure out how to stop these outsiders from further meddling in a situation, that as far as she concerned, is totally under control…
I give THE PROM a rating of 5 STARS! Having had the opportunity to view this Tony nominated Show on Broadway in 2018, I was super excited, and a little apprehensive too, to see Ryan Murphy’s film for Netflix hit the big screen! 5 minutes in, all my apprehensiveness faded away, as Murphy had the foresight to not waver too far from the original stage play – because if it works, it works – while still managing to put his mark, and amazing creativity to work throughout every inch of this film! Even though I loved the original cast on Broadway, kudos to Murphy too for pulling together the incredible Actors he did – Including 3 time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, Tony and Emmy Winner James Corden, Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman, and the rest of it’s fabulous cast too, including Keegan-Michael Key (Who knew he could actually sing?!), Kerry Washington, Andrew Rannells and youngsters Jo Ellen Pellman (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel / The Deuce) and Ariana DeBose (Hamilton / West Side Story (2021) too, as everyone, and I mean everyone was perfectly suited in their particular roles. And beyond the star-studded cast, every other element of this film is superb as well, whether you fall in love with its storyline, it’s costumes, or the fabulous musical numbers from beginning to end, including Trent’s, aka Andrew Rannell’s big number inside a midwestern Mall, or Angie, aka Nicole Kidman’s mustering up some Zazz along the way, it seems that every ounce of energy this entire cast could muster to put on screen, they did, and then some! For me personally, THE PROM is literally almost as magical on screen, as it was on stage, which is why I am suggesting that you head out to a theater near you to catch it on “The Big Screen” in all its glory if at all feasibly possible! But, if you’re still weary to venture out and about just yet, then make plans to gather up your entire brood to check out THE PROM this Friday, December 11th, when it officially hits on NETFLIX, as take my word for it, you will all fall in love with it too!
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 