The Music Man (2003)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Just perfect...

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

I have liked Matthew Broderick in many of the roles he has played. But this role seemed far beyond him. He is mush and milk-toast. Something I hadn't expected of him. Never even approached the "Spell binding cymbal salesman' that Harold Hill is supposed to be. The remainder of the cast is fun and effervescent. Kristin Chenowyth is delightful and Molly Shannon is a hoot. Some of the dancing is a little modern, but fun. The look of the show was solid. I would rate this a 9 out of 10 if Hill had been played more fully and successfully. I had to fault not only Broderick but the Director for allowing the performance in the first place. The music is well presented. It is a fun show. If you have not seen other Harold Hills you might like Broderick's performance. But I was supremely disappointed.

This is one of the few movies where the remake is at least as good as, if not better than,the original. The dancing is just superb especially the library number. Matthew Broderick does a very good job as the professor. He is a very good dancer. Kristin Chenoweth has a wonderful voice. The new ending really was a delight because it tied the story together more than the original ending. If I had any complaints it is that the mayor is miscast. I see the mayor as a sort of clown. Victor Garber is not really believable as a clownish character. He is too polished to play a clown. This is a movie that I would see over and over again.

Wow! I hate when they remake a movie and try, try, try too hard to either make it there own, when a masterful one had been made prior (1962 Original Movie) OR try to up it to politically correct standards which in the original you will notice the lack of African-Americans and in this one they are all over the place, which wouldn't probably have been the case in this story's time line. Not as free Americans walking around with the white folk like they are depicted here (and I mean no disrespect, just a fact). Matthew cannot sing near as well as Robert Preston did or even folks who have made reprisal CD's of the original movie or Broadway Show and Matthew is no stranger to Broadway.I guess if you haven't seen the 1962 Original movie watch this one, or better yet, IMMEDIATELY send this one back to Netflix or whoever or wherever you got it from and rent the 1962 Original with Shirley Jones and Robert Preston, then after that one has soaked in a bit rent this one. Honestly I could not watch more then 5 minutes of this one before I was ready to lose it. I love the original 1962 version, always have, always will and pretty much unless they can make an even better production which this is not then I am not up for watching a remake. The lack of voices and instruments compared to the 1962 movie in all the musical numbers is also very apparent, like this movie is missing something? Like everything :) :) :) Oh well, as they say on Ghosthunters, on to the next!

This is truly one of the worst adaptations ever put on film. Could not have been more flat if they had tried to do it as a parody. Honestly, Helen Keller could have directed a better version than this. I worked with a man who was responsible for writing out the score for the original Broadway production. I spent a large part of my life studying this show and never thought it could be this bad. Not only did they butcher the script, the casting was completely wrong.In an interview, Molly Shannon described E.M. Shinn as a woman who had traveled the world and felt it was her duty to impart her knowledge on the community of River City. This is completely wrong. E.M. Shinn is a woman who has read every article in Ladies Home Journal about various places around the world and has imparted her knowledge as IF she had actually been to these places. This is why the Greecian Urn and Indian Language scenes are so hilarious, she has no clue of what she is talking about. That tells me that the Director did not do his job and research who the characters are. If you don't understand the character, you can't direct them in a film.I also agree with a previous reviewer about the racial issue in this film. On stage we have a commonly accepted practice of "blind casting." That does not translate as well to film, especially a period one. I also agree that Mrs. Paroo's accent is horrendous. I'm writing this review while listening to it again and I can't explain it. Someone should have sent her to Dublin for a week before filming. OR, better yet, hire any number of great Irish actresses who could live up to the legendary Pert Kelton who created the role.If you want to see what this show should be, watch the original Warner Bros. Production with Robert Preston and Shirley Jones. Preston had the perfect level of Suave and smoothness as a swindler. Jones' voice soars as Marion. Of course the rest of the cast shine under Mort De Costa's direction. The director of this horrible version should never be allowed near a camera again.