Search - Meredith Willson, Matthew Broderick, Victor Garber :: Disney Presents The Music Man (2003 TV Film)

Broderick shines, Chenoweth SPARKLES

broadwaybelter | Chesapeake, VA United States | 02/17/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Oh, Meredith Wilson and the ever so famous "The Music Man"...i must admit it has never been one of my favorite musicals, but after having watched this performance on TV I definetly have a new opinion of it.
The classic Wilson marches (76 Trombones) and quick lyrics (Pick-a-little, talk-a-little and Shipoopie for example)keep your feet tapping and your head bobbing.
Matthew Broderick, although no where compares to Robert Preston (but then again who could??), still shines as Harold Hill in his own right. Broderick brings a refreshing, more realistic Hill to the screen and to the music. Whether it be "Trouble" "Marian the Librarian" or "'Til there was you" Broderick shows the comedy, light-hearted persona that he is known for, as well as a romantic tenderness that is just heart melting. Broderick however, does not have the vocal skill to stand up to a singer like Kristin Chenoweth...
....who is simply a DREAM! If you have never heard her sing before you should go check out her solo album, as well as the "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"(revival cast...she won a Tony!) and "A New Brain" recordings because you will fall in love with her. Chenoweth creates the perfect Marian that captures your heart and your ears. She has such a phenomenal range and performative skill that she brings to her role that clearly distinguishes her from other Marians. She is not afraid to break away from the traditional soprano sound and use her chest voice a little in the lower ranges of the songs, which makes them so much more sincere and emotional. It's a classic musical with some new twists and big names. How can you pass it up??"

Pretty good

Michael J Edelman | Huntington Woods, MI USA | 04/25/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Anyone setting out to do a remake of The Music Man has a difficult task ahead of them- it's pretty hard to top Robert Preston's stunning performance in the original Broadway and movie versions. That being said, Broderick does an admirable job.One difficulty is that Broderick doesn't immediately have that loveable rogue quality that Preston has; he comes across more like an amoral sociopath than a trickster. It takes a while to warm up to his version of the character. Both he and Chenoweth are playing characters significantly younger than usually portrayed in The Music Man. As written, Harold and Marian are middled aged people, pretty much settled into a life that's acceptible but not terribly joyful. The crux of the story is how each discovers, through the other, something about themselves. Harold discovers his humanity and desire for a normal life, and Marian discovers that she still needs romance.This never quite comes across in the Broderick-Cheoweth production. Both Broderick's Hill and Chenoweth's Marian are far too young to have any sort of past life or regrets. The poignient realizations that both come to just aren't there; it's more of a quick decision without much motivgation. He suddenly decides to stay, and she suddenly decides to help him. Chenoweth's singing is of course outstanding, and the CD is worth listening to for her performances alone. Broderick's are by comparison somewhat emotionless, and not helped by the production. The finale lacks the big sound of the original production as well, and it goes out on a rather low key note.In retrospect it was nice to see a solid attempt at a remake or a classic, and particularly nice to see it done on television, particularly in a season full of terrible reality shows and worse. But I do wish they'd done it with a little more passion and perhaps a little older cast."

I'm a Convert

Mark Baker | Santa Clarita, CA United States | 02/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As much as I say I enjoy musicals, I've actually seen very few of the classics. The Music Man is a case in point. But when I first heard this version announced, I was very excited. I bought the soundtrack before the movie itself aired, and I was not disappointed.The soundtrack is remarkable for its diversity. Everything from big band to ballads to barbershop quartet. This last one surprised me since I've never heard that style as part of a musical before. Yet none of it feels out of place and it all works well to create the feeling of small town America in 1912.The cast does a wonderful job with the songs. Being a fan of Kristin Chenoweth, I especially enjoyed getting to hear her featured so prominently. Matthew Broderick also does a great job as Professor Hill. I had trouble picturing him in a musical, but it really worked. I was surprised to find that Victor Garber didn't have any solos considering his considerable experience, but that's a minor point.Since this is my introduction to the musical, I can't comment on it compared to any of the other versions available. However, a couple co-workers who are die hard fans of the original thought it was good.My only real quibble is with the packaging. Nowhere do they tell you who sings which songs or give an entire cast list. Still, this is a minor quibble to an otherwise great CD. I will be enjoying this recording for years to come."