3.5 stars
Starring: Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells, Jo Ellen Pellman, Keegan-Michael Key, Kerry Washington, Ariana DeBose, Mary Kay Place, Tracey Ullman and Kevin Chamberlin
Rating: PG-13, for thematic elements and suggestive/sexual candor
Available via: Netflix
By Derrick Bang
Enterprise film critic
It’s easy to see why director Ryan Murphy was attracted to this Tony-nominated stage musical; it’s basically a double-length episode of his hit TV series, “Glee.”
On steroids. With an A-list cast.
“The Prom” a Netflix original boldly blends serious social commentary with frivolous Broadway razzmatazz, and gets away with it because the Bob Martin/Chad Beuelin script cheekily acknowledges as much.
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In a year that largely consisted of indoor activities, Broadway theatricals surely took an unfortunate hit. Ryan Murphy’s
The Prom, streaming on Netflix, is a noble attempt at deluding audiences into a world of razzmatazz but stumbles owing to poor execution and a complete lack of a gripping script.
With a venerable star cast that includes names like Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, and the oh-so-wonderful Keegan-Michael Key, one would expect nothing less than a masterclass on how-to-Broadway. However, Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin’s adaptation of their book (also written by Matthew Sklar) hardly passes muster.