Burlesque

There is a big difference between "bad" and "so bad it's good", and just because Burlesque is an "over the top camp musical" doesn't mean the rules don't apply. 

So while Burlesque gets off to a fairly laughable start as our small-town waitress heroine Alice grabs enough money from the till to hit L.A. and start living out her dream of being some kind of professional dancer.

It doesn't take long to realise that while parts of this are laughable, just as much seems to be more crap than camp. 

Alice soon finds work at L.A.'s most dingy yet impossibly glamorous burlesque club, where neutered lines like "Who does a girl have to flirt with to..." prove that wherever this film might be heading, any real sense of sex or sleaze isn't going to be found there.

Once the musical numbers kick in though, things get even more complex. 

Where the acting is wooden, the dialogue limp even when it's going for camp and the plot is both confused and stupid :

* The club's on its last financial legs and an evil developer wants to buy the building - good thing owner Cher flat out refuses to do anything at all to save the club apart from constantly saying "I won't lose my club"

* Each and every one of the increasingly non-burlesque musical numbers is fun for both the eyes and ears (with the possible exception of a bizarre act performed by a gratuitous Alan Cumming). 

Turns out the between-music moments aren't meant to be camp or trash : the film just doesn't care about them.

Approach this as a collection of glamorously staged musical numbers with toilet breaks inbetween and you'll have a great time; expect anything else - even quality stupidity - and you'll be setting yourself up for a fall.

DVD Special Features

When it comes time to award the Razzies next year for Worst Film, expect Burlesque's name to be thrown around quite a bit. Not only did the movie suck - so did it's box office taking less than $40M in the USA despite a $55M budget.

Admittedly the movie did go on to make close to $90M worldwide (and an additional $20M in DVD sales in the USA) which probably explains why so much effort seems to have gone into the DVD Special Features.

Included here is a Director's Commentary, as well as an Alternate Opening and the all important "The Burlesque Lounge : Alternate Full Musical Performances!" for the Glee fans.

There is also a Blooper Reel, which many thought the actual movie was.

Conclusion - Movie: 40% Extras: 60%