The Producers: Movie Review

Cast:
Nathan Lane: Max Bialystock
Matthew Broderick: Leo Bloom
Uma Thurman: Ulla
Will Ferrell: Franz Liebkind
Gary Beach: Roger De Bris



Director: Susan Stroman

Screenplay: Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan

Lyrics and Music: Mel Brooks

Studio: Universal Pictures and Columbia Pictures

Date Seen: Dec 30, 2005 (Oveido, FL)

Mini Review: What happens when a "past his prime" Broadway producer hooks up with a disgruntled pencil pusher? Madness...fun madness! A hapless, neurotic accountant named Leo Bloom (Matthew Broderick) convinces Max Bialystock (Nathan Lane), the "producer" of many Broadway misses, that he could make more money with a Broadway flop than with a hit. Bialystock knows all about short runs and closing nights and is quite confident that he and Bloom can produce the ultimate Broadway dud. Their strategy is to find the worst script, the most horrid director, and a group of incompetent actors so that they can intentionally sabotage their new show called "Springtime for Hitler". The result is a comedy of errors, miscalculations and surprises for Leo and Max. The film is full of clever music and well-timed physical comedy. In addition to the tremendous acting from Broderick and Lane, the rest of the cast delivers, particularly Will Ferrell and Gary Beach.

The Producers has had an incredible resurgence over the last few years. Mel Brooks introduced The Producers to the big screen in 1968 with Gene Wilder as Leo Bloom and Zero Mostel as Max Bialystock. We all know what an immense hit The Producers has been on Broadway. Lane and Broderick were aptly cast in this movie remake since they were the ones who took Manhattan by storm in 2001 by starring in these same roles on Broadway.

Score: 4 stars out of 5