Invites have been handed out for the now-annual year-end musical and this year, like most movie events in 2020, it comes courtesy of Netflix. Ryan Murphy directs an all-star ensemble in the first screen interpretation of hit Broadway show, The Prom, hoping to dazzle both audiences familiar with its origins and those approaching it for the first time. Should you RSVP to this party?
When a conservative high school bans a same-sex couple from attending the annual prom, a group of flamboyant but down-on-their-luck Broadway stars attempt to save face by showing support for the two lesbian students. Headlined by Meryl Streep and James Corden, with supporting performances from Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, Kerry Washington and Keegan-Michael Kay, while introducing many to Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose, The Prom hopes to deliver plenty of cheer in time for the holiday season.
An all-singing, all-dancing, glitter-invested extravaganza, The Prom is a most unapologetically camp picture. As loud and unsubtle as they come, Ryan Murphy infuses his usually bombastic flair into the big-hearted musical, with sparkling production values and enough sequins to costume the entire West End. Boosted by a big-hearted message, it is a well-intentioned and refreshingly-inclusive story that toes the line between light-hearted fun and a deeper of acceptance and individuality, with some genuinely terrific, toe-tapping songs, translated well into big-budget, grandiose setpieces. It is a fizzy, (perhaps overly)indulgent slice of escapism that couldn't feel more needed as this year races to its end.
But, before we get ahead of ourselves, we must report the one element that threatens to completely derail The Prom. His name is James Corden. Having haunted many screen musicals in recent year after breaking into Hollywood, he represents one of the most dreadful examples of casting in recent memory.
Unqualified to be acting besides such star-studded names, Corden's performance as Barry Glickman is almost offensively bad; a stereotypical caricature of the most surface-level understanding of gayness, Corden prances around with very little consideration of the emotional depth that could and should have enriched the character arc, reducing it to what is essentially a punchline. Some of the issues are exacerbated by the sheer volume of subplots in Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin's adapted screenplay that leads to some tonal clashes and bumps the runtime to an over-bloated two-hour length, but Corden (and Murphy, for signing off on the casting) shoulders most of the blame for poorly-judging the character and providing a turn as one-note as it could be. To put it frankly, it's embarrassing. As a Brit, I can only apologise.
Thankfully, he is surrounded by some great work from other members of the cast who manage to prop up his shoddiness. Streep's past-her-prime stage star is imbued with a knowingness that suits the satirical elements of the plot, poking fun at the narcissistic nature of showbiz while delivering the fun tunes with reliable ease. Similarly, Kidman brings real zazz to her performance, looking (her outfits are particularly fabulous!) and sounding terrific in the process. Washington is another standout, injecting some depth into a role that could have been played as a straight-up antagonist. Most of the ensemble impress really but, often, a film is only as strong as its weakest link.
Your enjoyment in The Prom depends on two things: firstly, how much you generally enjoy your musicals and, secondly, how much one terribly-cast role could impact said enjoyment. It came close to cancelling the celebration for me but the overwhelming glitz and glamour of the spectacle, combined with an otherwise strong cast and impressive soundtrack, manage to distract enough to still entertain. Don't go expecting the world and you could still find The Prom a party worth attending.
Summary: Despite one piece of horrendous casting that threatens to cancel The Prom, a wonderful Meryl Streep, a dazzling Nicole Kidman and an armful of musical numbers make the big-hearted and colourful extravaganza a mostly enjoyable occasion to attend.