Movie Review Madness - La La Land

Musical.  Step away if you do not want actors breaking into song. 

Are you still with me?  La La Land is absolutely delightful. It’s light, frothy, fun, and just joyous.  It’s a golden salute to Los Angeles, Hollywood, the film industry, jazz, and joy. Am I gushing?  Yes, I am.

Emma Stone (Mia) and Ryan Gosling (Sebastian) are not necessarily strong singers or dancers, but they are on key and have rhythm and they bring youth and exuberance to their roles.  From the time they meet to how they keep bumping into each other to how they bond and to how they move upward in the world of creativity…oh it’s fun.

From the opening number – cars stopped on the freeway, everyone getting out, singing, and dancing – to auditions, to jazz bars, to soulful glances – this movie has it all. It’s fun to root for Mia and Sebastian to “make it” – get chosen, be successful, work hard and sweat for the applause. And this is a duo you want to be in love, to be successful , to make it all work out.  I won’t give anything further away. Go watch these crazy kids and bask in their youth, their optimism, their hard work, and sacrifice. This is a good movie about the arts – there are no overnight success stories. It’s a lot of sweat and tears and gumption.

Fun song and dance numbers, fun palm tree backdrops, and you just can’t go wrong with time spent with Emma and Ryan. They are excellent at their craft and give it their all.  La La Land represents the soul of Hollywood. I predict happiness on Oscar night. We’ll see.