Movie Review: Burlesque

Christina Aguilera is at her best when she's belting out songs in <i>Burlesque.</i> Photo / Supplied

Rating: 2.5/5
Verdict: Life is a cabaret, but this sure isn't

When, in a movie, a young woman ditches the trailer park and her deadbeat waitressing job for a one way ticket to Hollywood, then it's not exactly out to surprise. Even if it does star Christina Aguilera in her first major movie role. If you're a fan of Aguilera's voice then you're sorted as she's at her best here when singing rather acting.

Aguilera's Ali arrives in LA and stumbles across The Burlesque Lounge, a musical revue club with its financial knickers in a knot. She scores a job as a cocktail waitress but is determined to convince the owner Tess (Cher) to let her slip into the corsets, sequins, wigs and feathers and hit the stage.

Aguilera's role in the Moulin Rouge music video for Lady Marmalade sure was good prep for this role. Once she does make it on stage (which takes far too long), she is, as you'd expect, in fabulous form. She's charming, provocative and suitably OTT, which contrasts quite starkly with her off-stage performance.

While mostly busy trying to save her club, Cher still manages to belt out a couple of songs and confirm that yes, she looks amazing for her age. Stanley Tucci though is the scene stealer as the gay stage manager/costume designer Sean. Not half as flamboyant as he initially appears, Sean is in fact the calm, stable, wise one among all the catty ladies, and also the funniest by far.

But while Burlesque might have two big voices, it doesn't fly as a musical. It doesn't use the music to drive the story along, and while Pussycat Dolls creator Steve Antin might know how to put on a slick song and dance act, as a drama director he's equal parts soap and cheese.

Still, you get the feeling Burlesque knows how melodramatic it is and it's more the product of the follow-your-dream American Idol-era than a flashback to Sweet Charity. It's suitably sexy and glossy, and the meeting of divas from different generations has some appeal. And those costumes certainly require some suspenders of disbelief.

LOWDOWN

Cast: Cher, Christina Aguilera
Director: Steve Antin
Running time: 119 mins
Rating: M (offensive language & sexual references)

-TimeOut