The Prom wasn't one of Broadway's brightest lights and it turns out it's not one of the better film adaptations either. Forgettable songs, a cringey script, and syrupy sentimentality doesn't do it any favours. The cast is top notch and rises above the material but still can't save this show which should likely close on opening night.
This is highlighted most prominently in a scene in the middle where Meryl Streep reminds us that she's the world's greatest living actor by knocking a corny scene out of the park and Cordon, not as notable for his acting chops, holds his own. It was then it really struck me just how much better this cast deserved.
But then the film got back to its truly boring music and I nodded off again.
Every character in The Prom is a caricature who go on a character arc about 5 feet long only to end up exactly where we expected them to. Or in the case of Kerry Washington's forced villain character, to a truly unearned redemption that feels as phony as the rest of the story. By the way Washington is also way better than her material should allow.
They all are. Kidman (whose character really has no place in the play and keeps you wondering why the fuck she's there) has one great dance number (to another forgettable song) and makes you wish you could just see her do Roxy Hart in Chicago instead. Corden, despite the criticism he gets for playing a sassy gay man with a campy sassy flare (??) is also better than I've seen him in most things. And Key is funny as always even a bit more restrained than he often can be (for the best). There is even a walk on by Tracey Ullman where she does more in her 5 minutes than a lot of actors do in a whole movie. Rannells is wasted in another character who seems to serve no purpose.
But none of them can save this trainwreck. It is all fake emotion, like the idea of tolerance and civil rights without any of the substance. It is all second rate tunes that evoke much better musicals. And no matter how flashy Murphy shoots his Glee revisit it isn't even Glee.
The Prom
Starring: Meryl Streep, James Cordon, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Kerry Washington, Ariana Debose, Jo Ellen Pellman, Tracey Ullman, Mary Kay Place
Director: Ryan Murphy
Writers: Bob Martin, Chad Beguelin
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