Movie Review: Burlesque

Just to get the disclaimers out of the way, it's here I need to come out as a huge fan of Cher. Naturally, I was delighted she's made a new film and I saw its first showing in London's West End.

The story of Burlesque is very simple. A smalltown girl in a dead-end job jumps on the bus to LA to make it in show business. She happens on a burlesque club and befriends the barman. After some cocktail waitressing, a shaky start with Tess, the owner of the club, and attempted sabotage that forces her to show just how talented she really is, she becomes a big star and manages to help Tess save the club from certain foreclosure. And of course, she gets the barman too.

However, the film is fun and good-natured and so the lack of originality is forgiveable. Tess is played by Cher, who is pretty much playing herself anyway, but that's what people pay to see. Christina Aguilera, as the wide-eyed ingenue, is pretty good as an actress, although it's her dancing and vocal talents that are showcased here. Cam Gigandet, as the barman, has a particularly attractive set of arms, although his eyeliner leaves a lot to be desired. Stanley Tucci plays Tess's gay right-hand man who, unusually for a mainstream film, is depicted as having a sexual/romantic life, rather than being a movie gay whose only purposes are to spout one-liners and not be attracted to women.

A friend asked me what part Alan Cumming plays in the proceedings. Basically, he's reprising his role as the emceein Cabaret and isn't in the film much – he has a couple of short scenes and one musical number. I actually rather like him as a performer, and so I think he's a little bit wasted. I suspect he only took the role because, like a lot of guys who like guys, he's a big fan of Cher.

The film has a 12A certificate in the UK, and so a lot of the action is quite toned down. I'm sure real burlesque clubs have significantly more swearing, fornication and substance abuse. As some critics have mentioned, the film could certainly have been grittier. But, judged on its own terms, it's a campy romp with lots of rousing musical numbers, a happy ending and of course Cher bestriding the proceedings like a Colossus. If that's not worth £13.50 (the price of a ticket in London's West End), I don't know what is.