Annie (1982)

Truly Dreadful Film

Highly Overrated But Still Good

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

I really wanted to love this movie. I have the original cast recording and have known every song by heart for years. It was a good musical, there is a phenomenally talented cast, but it just doesn't work that well on the screen. I am not sure who to blame--director? producers?--but it seems over-produced and underwhelming at the same time. I am watching the end of the film as I write this, and in the last few minutes I have seen helicopters and elephants and fireworks. There is a hugeness to this production that sometimes overwhelms the characters and story. In an effort to make the musical less stagy on the screen, the musical has lost its sense of being a musical. Just before this final scene is extended chase drama that does nothing to heighten tension but simply serves to drag out the inevitable happy ending. Sometimes less is more. At the same time, there is an underproduction to the musical numbers that hurts it as well. For example, when the orphans dance and sing the choreography seems sloppy, like it has not been rehearsed enough or at all. While the effort may be to look natural, it comes off as poorly done. Musicals are NOT natural. They require we suspend our disbelief enough to accept that people break out into song and dance. That the singing and dancing are sloppy looking doesn't make it easier to suspend disbelief. It simply disappoints. Ann Reinking is amazing among a very talented group of actors I have admired in other productions. They do their best here. But the production is not worthy of the talent gathered here. You may enjoy it, but it is sad when Annie is watching a scene at the movies and those (long, long) clips of a film within the film make you care more about THAT movie than the one you are watching.

Annie is a family favourite for a good reason. The songs are catchy and memorable. You and your family will be singing and humming them everywhere you go. The entire movie is well done but it gets the most interesting at the ending. The character development of Annie's adopted dad is heartwarming.

The songs in this are good, in any case, and that's the important thing about a musical. This is the definitive version of the classic novel in which a young orphan girl is adopted by a wealthy industrialist and forced to learn airs and graces which don't exactly come naturally to her.It's just a pity that so much of the running time consists of Aileen Quinn's histrionic acting as the screeching Annie. This kid can't say a word but instead has to shout everything in that god-awful voice of hers, and I cringed my way through all of her dialogue scenes. Still, as I said, the musical set-pieces are better, having real heart to them, so it's not all bad, and she's a much better singer than she is a speaker.Cast-wise, there's an exemplary turn from the unrecognisable Albert Finney as Warbucks, the benevolent benefactor, alongside stock villainous performances from the likes of Carol Burnett and Tim Curry. Watch out for LIVE AND LET DIE's Geoffrey Holder as the manservant, Punjab.

Aileen Quinn is a cute little Irish thing, but that 'Tomorrow' song! Sheesh! If I had to hear that song one more time, I was going to kick her dog Sandy right in the butt.John Huston's attempt at a movie musical was over-blown to say the least. They sure spent a lot ($50 million) and they sure didn't make much on the film ($35 million), but the show was lively and big and splashy and all that.Unfortunately, there is virtually no warmth in this movie. It's all glam and confetti. Albert Finney walks through it, Carol Burnett is nothing less than perfect as 'Miss Hannigan', and Bernadette Peters has luscious boobs.Recommended as fluffy escapism (...."tomorrow", when I'm not around. Thanks).