The Prom- The Netflix Movie

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2020 8:46:56 GMT dazzerlump said:

I hope we get an extended version available at some point with the full versions of the songs. Having seen a promotional post on insta they clearly filmed more of the acceptance song.

The full version of You Happened is on the soundtrack and was clearly also filmed as it is a pretty awkward cut in the film.

Such a shame they cut the verse with Alyssa and Emma as the two don't get enough screen time together in the film and the two actresses are great so I doubt it was because the scene didn't work. I hope it'll be a deleted scene and end up on YouTube at some point.

[oxfordsimon]

I thoroughly enjoyed it but it would have loved it if they had switched Corden and Rannells round.

There are some decent tunes, some winning performances and Meryl having the time of her life.

As a director, I would love to get my hands on the stage version. I think there is more emotion to be found.

Still very glad they made it

[kathryn]

Dec 18, 2020 23:46:57 GMT oxfordsimon said:

I thoroughly enjoyed it but it would have loved it if they had switched Corden and Rannells round.

That would have worked! I guess they were influenced by the original Broadway casting (‘no, the gay character is fat!! He has to be fat!’ He can’t be attractive, he has to be sad and fat!’) and didn’t think of it.

Corden has that youth group ring-leader attitude that would have really sold him for the big number in the mall.

[noboiscout]

Three of my theatre 'boyfriends' rubbished this. I have to say that I really enjoyed it. For those Netflixers put off by the poor reviews from the critics, I'd say give it a go.

[alece10]

Wanted to watch this as a Christmas treat so watched it last night.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and really liked many of the musical numbers.
Fantastic dance numbers too.
Great cast and I had no problem at all with James Cordon.
Great fun.

[Deleted]

I really enjoyed it, and despite the negative press, thought Corden was good in the role. Him playing gay didn't bother me at all. But what James should never ever be allowed to do again, is play an American. That accent was shocking. Why just not make British?

I haven't seen the stage version, but I was surprised by how little screen time the 2 girls got, given that the plot revolves around them.

[Deleted]

Dec 27, 2020 20:49:53 GMT @tbfl said:

I haven't seen the stage version, but I was surprised by how little screen time the 2 girls got, given that the plot revolves around them.

That annoyed me, particularly as their verse of one of the songs is in full on the soundtrack but not in the film.

They deserved so much more character development and focus, particularly because Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose are really good and entirely believable as a couple.

Too much Meryl and Corden, too little of the main couple.

[jojo]

I really enjoyed this, and it exceeded my limited expectations. I didn't know much about it, except for the trailer and some chatter. It was just the tonic for a between Christmas and New Year watch, without being too sickly sweet. I liked that it poked fun at the narcissism of the Broadway stars, and by extension, the trite nature of some celebrity activism, which helped to ground the story and stopped it coming across as being a one way attack on small town people being backwards and small minded etc.

The overall plot was predictable, but it didn't matter, as there were enough jokes and good music to keep me entertained.

Dec 27, 2020 20:49:53 GMT @tbfl said:

I really enjoyed it, and despite the negative press, thought Corden was good in the role. Him playing gay didn't bother me at all. But what James should never ever be allowed to do again, is play an American. That accent was shocking. Why just not make British?

I haven't seen the stage version, but I was surprised by how little screen time the 2 girls got, given that the plot revolves around them.

I tend to ignore complaints about Corden, because he seems to be one of those people that it's acceptable to hate, often for tenuous reasons. There are some fair reasons for criticising him and his work, but far too much seems rooted in a resentment that he's successful whilst simultaneously being fat, and I can't help but think that many of those not saying that part out loud are thinking it, or have been influenced by those who do.

I spent years having a go at the idiots who claimed that gay men couldn't or shouldn't play straight, especially if it's a romantic lead or action hero, so I struggle with the more recent trend expecting gay characters to be played by gay actors. That feels like a backwards step to me and is painting gay actors into a smaller corner than straight ones. IMO, we should be pushing for gay actors to have better acceptance and be allowed to use their acting skills to act the full range of roles, rather than trying to compensate for historical prejudice by erecting new barriers.

I know it's a bit more complicated than that, but so long as actual gay people are involved in the process of telling 'gay stories', particularly the writing and creative aspects, I feel that should be enough.

I'm a straight woman, and knowing little about the story or stage version, had no preconceived ideas about how the part should be played, but accent aside, his portrayal felt to be in keeping with the script, and if critics felt he played the role too camp for their liking, then I'd be asking questions of the director first. Yes, it was a bit of a cliché, but when the script involves a lesbian needing the help of a gay man to go shopping, that cliché is in the writing.

[kathryn]

I always suspect there’s some fat phobia going on with the Corden hatred. The frequency with which the phrase ‘fat ****’ is directed at him on social media is eyebrow-raising.

The role was originated on Broadway by a gay actor, and that’s the origin of the campiness. My criticism is that I think Corden is basically replicating that performance - because it must be ok if a gay actor has defined the campiness of the character, right? - and as a result it doesn’t quite feel authentic. But it’s not parodic, it’s not making the character the butt of the joke, and it’s not ‘bad’ - it’s a competent performance. It’s just that it could be better.

Totally agree that trying to restrict parts by sexuality is self-defeating.
There are far more opportunities for gay actors to ply straight characters than for straight actors to play gay ones. And we rightly have no idea what goes on in most actors’ private lives - we shouldn’t
be demanding that gay actors out themselves to get work, and then limiting the work they can get because they are out.

[fluxcapacitor]

Jan 1, 2021 10:29:29 GMT kathryn said:

I always suspect there’s some fat phobia going on with the Corden hatred. The frequency with which the phrase ‘fat ****’ is directed at him on social media is eyebrow-raising.

The role was originated on Broadway by a gay actor, and that’s the origin of the campiness. My criticism is that I think Corden is basically replicating that performance - because it must be ok if a gay actor has defined the campiness of the character, right? - and as a result it doesn’t quite feel authentic. But it’s not parodic, it’s not making the character the butt of the joke, and it’s not ‘bad’ - it’s a competent performance. It’s just that it could be better.

Totally agree that trying to restrict parts by sexuality is self-defeating.
There are far more opportunities for gay actors to ply straight characters than for straight actors to play gay ones. And we rightly have no idea what goes on in most actors’ private lives - we shouldn’t
be demanding that gay actors out themselves to get work, and then limiting the work they can get because they are out.

I completely agree with both posts regarding not limiting gay actors playing straight and vice versa, and also with the sentiment that there is general Corden hatred which is leaking into reviews.  But I think the issue with Corden in this instance is different, and justified.  The original raw material from the Prom musical is a really wonderful and genuine (and yes, campy) exploration of a middle aged gay man who rediscovers himself through the relationship he strikes up with a troubled teenage gay girl and the freedoms she experiences compared to what he never did.  The nuance of this, and - IMO - the heart of the story, is lost when it's played by someone like Corden who is a laddish straight man who's made a career from mainly playing himself - whether that's in a role (e.g. Gavin & Stacey) or as a presenter.  It's not necessarily the fact that Barry is being played by a straight actor for me (although, granted, it seems to be for some people) but the fact he's being played by someone who we all know is not camp, not gay, and not familiar with any of the issues Barry has had to face.  So any time he has to portray any of the meaningful beats in the movie, it comes across as fake and forced.

I know there are counter arguments about what an actor does and the suspension of disbelief, but I'd feel the same if someone widely known for being naturally camp and playing gay - say Sean Hayes - was suddenly cast as a serious laddish straight character.  It would feel fake.  It would feel put on.  And, honestly, casting directors just wouldn't do it because unless he gave the performance of his life it would immediately take you out of the movie.

That's the issue I have with Corden here.  And it leaps out more than usual because the whole message of the movie is acceptance, and the changing attitudes towards gay people.  The lack of authenticity in its lead gay role feels at odds with what the material sets out to do.

[kathryn]

The funny thing about that is Corden *is* camp by American film industry standards. He’s far more known for his musical theatre geekery than for laddy characters like Smithy.

I mean, all British actors read as slightly camp to Americans anyway - which is why you always see expressions of shock when they announce marriages and babies. It’s not hard to find people on social media who are convinced that Corden is secretly gay.

[alece10]

Haven't people seen his Crosswalk Musicals?
Completely camp.

[Deleted]

Having never seen Gavin and Stacey, i have never seen him as laddish, and i think he is kind of camp and i like that he doesnt try to pretend otherwise. Maybe thats why i wasn't so bothered by it. And playing a straight man, Andrew Rannells isnt exactely the butchest man around.

You dont have to have experienced being kicked out by your parents to be able to act it, and i thought he hit the emotional moments well. But i do agree that people hate on him because of his success,his size and because it semms trendy to do so.

[robertb213]

Watching this now. I'm not blown away but it's enjoyable, and if nothing else it's lovely to see and hear a new musical 😁

[danb]

Lot’s of people dislike him because of how he has treated people within the industry in the past. He isn’t the jolly happy go lucky buffoon that he makes out, or that he’s painted as.

[Phantom of London]

That is completely unfounded and shouldn’t start unfounded rumours on social media, including that he is secretly gay too.

In a day of colour-blind casting/sex-blind casting/sexuality-blind casting. So what if it is the other way round for once.

As for James Corden we British love to elevate a person with working class credentials, I.e. not born with a silver spoon in their mouth, then when they make it, give them a good kicking. James is going through a tough time at the moment with this, also thinking people like David Beckham, Victoria Beckham Wayne Rooney and Gordon Ramsey etc.

[danb]

Unfortunately it isn’t unfounded. Two separate people I know have worked with him at different times in his career and commented on how changed he is etc. I tend not to say things without foundation or at least a source that I trust.

[BurlyBeaR]

Jan 1, 2021 15:55:55 GMT fluxcapacitor said:

Jan 1, 2021 10:29:29 GMT kathryn said:

It's not necessarily the fact that Barry is being played by a straight actor for me (although, granted, it seems to be for some people) but the fact he's being played by someone who we all know is not camp, not gay, and not familiar with any of the issues Barry has had to face. So any time he has to portray any of the meaningful beats in the movie, it comes across as fake and forced.

Corden went to regular schools but attended acting, singing and dancing classes in the evenings. Even if he wasn’t gay he was still the fat kid doing singing and dancing. Maybe this was overlooked by the school bullies, I hope it was, but it seems doubtful that he wouldn’t have experienced some degree of marginalisation. 

[kathryn]

He was the fat kid into singing and dancing who was a huge boyband fan - I can guarantee you he got picked on for being gay at school.

Bullies don’t actually care about accuracy. I had kids calling me a lesbian just because I had a small group of not particularly popular female friends. The fact that we spent all our time talking about the boys we fancied was irrelevant to them.

Of course there may well be people who are entirely justified in disliking Corden within the industry. Fame and fortune doesn’t generally do great things for your personality - particularly if you are carrying insecurities around.

[danb]

Jan 2, 2021 12:05:41 GMT kathryn said:

He was the fat kid into singing and dancing who was a huge boyband fan - I can guarantee you he got picked on for being gay at school.

Bullies don’t actually care about accuracy. I had kids calling me a lesbian just because I had a small group of not particularly popular female friends. The fact that we spent all our time talking about the boys we fancied was irrelevant to them.

Of course there may well be people who are entirely justified in disliking Corden within the industry. Fame and fortune doesn’t generally do great things for your personality - particularly if you are carrying insecurities around.

Quite Kathryn. There may be any number of people who have only ever seen him being a stand up guy and will only have good things to say about him, rather than being arrogant, bullish and believing his own hype. We are all only human, and if people tell you that you’re wonderful for long enough it must be very hard not to believe it.

[jojo]

Jan 1, 2021 20:40:08 GMT danb said:

Lot’s of people dislike him because of how he has treated people within the industry in the past. He isn’t the jolly happy go lucky buffoon that he makes out, or that he’s painted as.

I saw an interview with him a few years ago where he admitted that there was a phase in his life when he had become arrogant and become an arse, and not behaved as well as he'd have liked to have done.

I couldn't say whether or not he's become that person again, or if it never left him, but I don't think he's currently claiming he's only ever been that jolly happy go lucky type. 

Of course there's a performance aspect to being a chat show host, and you don't become as successful as he is without being driven.

I'm sure at least some of the stories about him are true, but I do question how much weight is given to them in relation to others in the business who conform more to expectations of what a star should look like and what their background should be.

[oxfordsimon]

This comes down to how you can separate the actor from the work they create.

I don't care if Corden has been an arse in other areas of his life. I do care if he gives a credible performance.

In this production, I think he was miscast. He did a reasonable job but not a spectacular one.

He was very impressive in One Man, Two Guv'nors. And I enjoy his Boardwalk Musicals.

He has some talents. But this role was beyond him. As I said before, I would have swapped him with Rannells and ignored the size of the actor who created the role.

[iamamazing]

If there is a musical to come to London after a pandemic it’s this one i hope and pray it comes over. I’m obsessed with the soundtrack, would love for the musical version to o come over here.

[musicalmarge]

Jan 17, 2021 4:23:48 GMT iamamazing said:

If there is a musical to come to London after a pandemic it’s this one i hope and pray it comes over. I’m obsessed with the soundtrack, would love for the musical version to o come over here.

Best thing I ever saw on Broadway! Ever! And I’ve seen over 70 shows over 20 years.

[n1david]

Well it appears the Golden Globes jury liked JC's performance enough to nominate him for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy...