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The Producers [2005]


RRP: £19.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The film-of-the-musical-of-the-film, The Producers unites the hit Broadway pairing of Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, drafts in Uma Thurman, and somewhere along the way loses half the fun that made the original movie and the Broadway show such a success.

Under the watchful eye of creator Mel Brooks, this may be a musical version but it tells the same tale--two men stumble across a great way to make money, by putting on a Broadway flop. So off they go to devise the most offensive, sure-fire failure, only to see their creation--Springtime For Hitler--become the town’s hot ticket.

While there’s undoubtedly some fun to be had here, and Lane and Broderick are clearly have a great time in their roles, there are a couple of key problems with The Producers. Firstly, and most crucially, is the staid direction. This very much feels like a camera was placed in front of a stage, and it hurts the film a lot. Secondly, the wonderful energy of Mel Brooks’ original movie is sadly lacking, and at no time does this no version threaten to be an equal to its predecessor.

And yet there are winning moments, some good laughs, and a gentle couple of hours of entertainment. Yet the key attraction is clearly a chance for the majority who never got to see Lane and Broderick treading the boards in their acclaimed performances before, and for many, that rightly justifies the asking price. You just can’t help wishing the film around them was a little better, though.--Simon Brew


Over the top
Review date: 2008-10-21 Rating: 6 out of 10

Max Bialystock (Nathan Lane) is a loser as a Broadway producer, but his accountant Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick) helps him come with up with a plan to produce the worst show ever on the Great White Way, one they know will close after only one performance, and then abscond with the money they raised. The show they're sure will bomb is called "Springtime for Hitler."

Based on Mel Brooks' Broadway musical that was based on his non-musical movie, this is pretty much a filmed stage play starring the play's two leads, Lane and Broderick. I like Nathan Lane, but this is too much of a good thing; he's too loud, too mincing, and too broad and is exhausting to watch. Broderick is full of wide-eyed, Ferris Bueller-charm and likeability, but he is tiresome after a while, too. Will Farrell was completely awful as the Nazi-loving playwright and really ruined the show for me. All the dialogue is SHOUTED as if they're still trying to reach the last row of the balcony and they all seem so enamored of themselves and their material that it's off-putting.

I liked the original Producers back in 1968, which was nutty and wacky and funny; this time around, the movie is too big for the big screen. I grew weary and wanted it to end. I can certainly see how charming Lane and Broderick would be on the stage, especially if you're seated 100 feet from them. They're adorable and talented and the story is funny; it just doesn't work on the screen.

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Reviews


Highlight, Uma shows her Thurman's
Review date: 2008-09-01 Rating: 4 out of 10

Max Bialystock (Nathan Lane) did it again. Yep his plays are flops. Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick) accountant inadvertently suggests that one can make a mint by selling more than 100% of a flop production. This sets Max in motion to produce the floppiest play yet.
Will their scheme succeed?

Well ever since his successes in his youth Matthew Broderick has had a string of mediocre movies. The string has finally broken with this less than mediocre production. One plus is that they did not try to mimic the original film. The addition of several new musical pieces and keeping "Springtime for Hitler" shows a great effort at creativity while retaining the essence of the story. However the musical pieces were more vulgar than funny and relied of base language and gestures than on skill or relevancy.

There were some good actors such as Hilda the wrong way pigeon. And Uma looked like she had fun in this one. However most of the actors including Matthew Broderick looked like they were just walking through.


so disappointing!
Review date: 2008-08-23 Rating: 6 out of 10

i have been a fan of the '68 film since, um, '68 and wet myself when i saw the musical show in london with nathan lane and lee evans

but this film? oh dear oh dear oh dear!

blame the director whose inexperience is all too obvious, making the actors appear wooden and inneffective - even nathan lane, so vibrant on the stage, is nothing here

why oh why oh why was the period of the film put back from the 60's to the 50's and why is the film so obviously a film of the stage show - such a missed opportunity.....

yes there good moments (because of course it is a great story), but far too many longuers

such a shame!



Best looked at as a musical with humour rather than a comedy
Review date: 2008-06-13 Rating: 6 out of 10

I enjoyed this film, for me the first hour and forty minutes flew by, maybe the final twenty three minutes felt a little drawn out, but not majorly so.

There are some really good comic moments in the film, for me it was not a laugh a minute film, but of course it's primarily a musical so I guess you should expect that anyway.

Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick work very well together, Uma Thurman was wasted in her part as she simply was not really given much to do, I'd have liked to have seen more of Will Ferrell, I think he's a superb comic talent and although he's let off of his leash a fair bit, he's never allowed to go into full flow, nor is he given enough screen time for my liking either as I'm sure it'd have been even funnier if he had been.

Overall though a really good effort, I've not seen the original version so I can't compare this to the original, but if you enjoy/don't mind musicals then this is well worth taking a look at, I'm glad I did.

"I want everything I've ever seen in the movies !"
Review date: 2008-06-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

I was a big fan of the original film with Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel and only watched the new film just to see how it would work as a musical.
I am so glad I watched this film, it is brilliant, with wonderful songs and an amazing cast.
Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick are well suited to play Max Bialystock and Leopold Bloom respectively and both these actors make this film incredible.
It's also very funny with songs that make you want to sing along.
A brilliant film I'd recommend to anyone.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Matthew Broderick
Will Ferrell
Uma Thurman
Andrea Martin
Nathan Lane

Creators:
Nathan Lane (Primary Contributor)
Matthew Broderick (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
EAN: 5035822071339
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2006-04-24
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 134 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2005
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Hindi (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)

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