The Producers DVD Review

"THE PRODUCERS" reviews

DVD

THE PRODUCERS

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-04-21 15:32:19

Provider

MRIB

DVD Review

Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick received huge plaudits for their stage performances in the adaptation of Mel Brooks' hilarious film and it would have been bad manners if the pair weren't given the chance to reprise their roles for the movie remake.

Max Bialystock (Lane), a one time award winning Broadway producer, has seen his career go into freefall and now hustles lonely ladies in order to raise enough cash to stage new shows. His accountant, Leo Bloom (Broderick), notices the money Max raises is more than he actually spends on his shows as they always close after one performance. Realising you can make more money off a flop that a hit, a scheme is hatched to produce the biggest flop the world has ever seen, Springtime for Hitler!

Fans of the original Mel Brooks movie will be pleasantly surprised by this rendering. There's little directorial fuss, in fact it's as if Susan Stroman stuck a camera in the Broadway theatre were it ran, but that just adds to the hammy charm. Will Ferrell's Franz Liebkin, the neo-Nazi, pigeon fancier playwright fully deserves his Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The only downside is Uma Thurman as Ulla, the jaw-dropping blonde who lands a key role in the show. Nicole Kidman pulled out of the role at the last minute and for all of Uma's alluring looks she sounds like she could've done with another six months of singing lessons.

However, Broderick and Lane's chemistry is second to none - well, actually second to Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder - and they, along with Ferrel effectively carry the movie during the less wacky moments.

DVD also includes commentary from director Susan Stroman, deleted scenes, Analysis Of A Scene featurette and blooper reel

Copyright © MRIB 2006.