<p>The Producers (2005) </p>
<p>A film review by Jason Pitt </p>
<p>For Critical-film.com </p>
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<p>The main problem with “The Producers” is it's just too damn long. It's so leisurely paced that its 2 ¼ hour runtime becomes a trial to sit through. The film adaptation of the stage play, which is itself an adaptation of the original 1968 film, has a lot going for it, a great cast, some brilliant moments, but it's just too long. </p>
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<p>Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick are both perfect in their roles. They have marvellous chemistry, certainly a product of their time together in the record-breaking Tony winning Broadway musical. From time to time however, their line delivery is as it would be in a stage play, seeming much less natural than it should. The rest of the cast is excellent as well, as both Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell's performances are great, both incorporating thick accents from both Sweden and Germany , respectively. To the best of my knowledge, the actors all sing their parts, and all perform well. Lane and Broderick are obviously up to the task, and what surprised me is how good a dancer Matthew Broderick actually is. Ferrell sings primarily in German, and does very well with what he is given. Ferrell's typical character does come through from time to time, yet most of his performance is quite original and funny. </p>
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<p>Regrettably, I've never seen the original film, nor have I seen the Broadway production. The only time I've spent with “The Producers” was during season 4 of HBO's “Curb Your Enthusiasm”. So I have no basis for comparison between films. However, I'm certain there are many subtle differences, and perhaps some more drastic changes, as the original film was produced in 1968, and the 2005 remake has some very suggestive dialogue scattered throughout the film. </p>
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<p>The story itself, which chronicles the deliberate creation of and production of what should be the biggest flop in Broadway history, a musical called ‘Springtime for Hitler', hasn't changed. Director Susan Stroman creates some very elaborate set pieces along the way. The characters sing and dance in front of beautiful sequences of Broadway lights, the dance in smaller rooms with colourful lighting, and jail cells lit with purplish and reddish hues. The film looks good, and exactly as you'd expect a Broadway musical to look when translated to film. </p>
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<p>The musical itself is perhaps the films strongest asset, it begins in horrifyingly offensive fascist, whoops, I mean fashion. It's brilliantly funny, and only becomes more so after Hitler is introduced. The sequence grabs the film, spins it 180 degrees, and develops in a different direction from there. This is essentially the point which signals the beginning of the third act, however it occurs nearly two hours into the film. </p>
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<p>Had “The Producers” been shorter, or slightly faster paced, I certainly would have enjoyed it more. Bringing Susan Stroman aboard as director was a smart choice, in that it ensures a more accurate representation of the massively successful Broadway production, however the film feels more like a theatre performance than a feature film much of the time, which serves only as a distraction. The cast is funny, and all are certainly skilled singers/dancers, making for an enjoyable time, despite the running time. If you've been lucky enough to see the Broadway production, I'm certain “The Producers” will entertain, however I still suggest seeing the original film which clocks in at a much more reasonable 88 minutes. </p>
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<p>(Two-and-a-half stars) </p>
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