Finally got round to seeing this and although it's not the worst musical I've ever seen (step forward, Lost Horizon) it is damn close.
Yes the sets and costumes are great but with all the money that was spent you'd hardly expect anything else.
As has been said, there are just too many songs. sometimes less than a minute seems to pass between one and another. Bogdanovich clearly didn't care about the plot so why should we? Musicals are supposed to be constructed so the numbers compliment and fit neatly into the story. They don't just exist in total isolation for no reason, at least not in good musicals. Most of the numbers in At Long Last Love don't have a point.
The live singing means a few songs almost work through spontaneity alone, 'friendship' in the car for example. Though much of the credit in these cases goes to Cole Porter whose music is so good not even this cast can ruin it completely. At its worst though, the film contains some of the most horrible musical numbers ever committed to film. 'well did you evah' is woeful and the whole 'delovely' sequence with Burt and Cybill is simply atrocious.
The amateur high school production comparison is spot on. There's energy and exuberance from the cast but not much real talent. 'most gentlemen' is particularly excrutiating, poorly sung and so haphazardly danced it comes across like three teenage girls performing in their bedroom to upload onto youtube.
Most people will struggle to get past the first hour and won't miss anything if they don't. Except the worst bits are all in the second half, so stick with it if you want to see how bad it gets.
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Michaelnlori
10 years ago
Just had to chime in after watching this on blu ray. The OP says the best singer in the film is Burt Reynolds-to be fair Madeline Kahn was a marvelous singer with a great voice. I saw her on Broadway in "On the Twentieth Century" and she could sing!!
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