I have adored the 1963 film version of "Bye Bye Birdie" for years, but had always been disappointed at the fact that they cut out most of Rosie's songs. I bought this movie last night, vaguely remembering having seen it when I was little. Now I understand why my memory was so vague.
Although this included the original score (plus three new songs that I personally did not enjoy) and was far closer to the Broadway play than the first film, there was something very bland to me about this remake. Perhaps Dick Van Dyke and Ann-Margret have pampered me... I don't know. Jason Alexander is a great performer, but he's just not an Albert. Chynna Phillips, as most people have said, looked way too old to play seventeen year old Kim (two years older than Kim was supposed to be on Broadway and a year older than in the previous film). Along with that, her vocals had more of that Wilson-Phillips mainstream edge than than that of a Broadway or earlier movie musical performer. As much as I love George Wendt, he wasn't nearly as funny as Paul Lynde. While I thought Tyne Daly did a good job portraying Albert's obnoxious mother, Mae, I must admit that it lacked a certain something Maureen Stapleton's performance had. Bobby Rydell was a far better Hugo, having that sort of "dorky naivete" that a Hugo SHOULD have. I mean... I even liked Mrs. MacAfee in the other film better! But the grossest miscasting of all was... yes, ladies and gentlemen... Marc Kudisch as Conrad Birdie. He was HORRIBLE. And while I know Birdie IS supposed to more or less "mock" Elvis, he could have done it far less grotesquely. His vocals, his dancing, his performance... it just annoyed me to no end. (So did Ursula, but this is another story.)
However, there is one exception.
Vanessa Williams as Rosie. Now THAT was a good bit of casting. Given, she still looks BLACK and not HISPANIC... but we can't all be Chita Riveras, right? Nor can we all be Janet Leighs who, though she's definitely NOT Hispanic and doesn't even have that dark of a complexion, they somehow managed to make look Hispanic in the other film. Vanessa played the role very, very, very well, and delivered the best performance of anyone in the entire cast. Hooray for Vanessa!
Aside from Vanessa, I would like to chalk one up for them keeping the score in tact. However, as I previously mentioned, I was not digging the three new songs, nor was I digging the "new" sound that the orchestra had. It just didn't have that big, brassy, Broadway musical flash. At the same time... when I saw that Fosse dancer Ann Reinking would be choreographing, I thought I'd be in for a musical treat. Joke. Numbers that totally screamed sass and class in the other film like "The Telephone Hour," "How Lovely to Be a Woman," "Honestly Sincere," "Lot of Livin' to Do," "Rosie" and... well, basically every other song... just lacked the spunk and vivacity needed here. Even Rosie's dance with the shriners came out like... well... like Fosse gone bad.
I know Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde just hated the 1963 movie, but I promise them that they did all right by me.
All in all, I honestly can't say that I recommend this film. I do, however, recommend it to people who would like to see Vanessa Williams do a terrific job as Rosie or would like to see "Bye Bye Birdie" in a version closer to the Broadway show.
Although this included the original score (plus three new songs that I personally did not enjoy) and was far closer to the Broadway play than the first film, there was something very bland to me about this remake. Perhaps Dick Van Dyke and Ann-Margret have pampered me... I don't know. Jason Alexander is a great performer, but he's just not an Albert. Chynna Phillips, as most people have said, looked way too old to play seventeen year old Kim (two years older than Kim was supposed to be on Broadway and a year older than in the previous film). Along with that, her vocals had more of that Wilson-Phillips mainstream edge than than that of a Broadway or earlier movie musical performer. As much as I love George Wendt, he wasn't nearly as funny as Paul Lynde. While I thought Tyne Daly did a good job portraying Albert's obnoxious mother, Mae, I must admit that it lacked a certain something Maureen Stapleton's performance had. Bobby Rydell was a far better Hugo, having that sort of "dorky naivete" that a Hugo SHOULD have. I mean... I even liked Mrs. MacAfee in the other film better! But the grossest miscasting of all was... yes, ladies and gentlemen... Marc Kudisch as Conrad Birdie. He was HORRIBLE. And while I know Birdie IS supposed to more or less "mock" Elvis, he could have done it far less grotesquely. His vocals, his dancing, his performance... it just annoyed me to no end. (So did Ursula, but this is another story.)
However, there is one exception.
Vanessa Williams as Rosie. Now THAT was a good bit of casting. Given, she still looks BLACK and not HISPANIC... but we can't all be Chita Riveras, right? Nor can we all be Janet Leighs who, though she's definitely NOT Hispanic and doesn't even have that dark of a complexion, they somehow managed to make look Hispanic in the other film. Vanessa played the role very, very, very well, and delivered the best performance of anyone in the entire cast. Hooray for Vanessa!
Aside from Vanessa, I would like to chalk one up for them keeping the score in tact. However, as I previously mentioned, I was not digging the three new songs, nor was I digging the "new" sound that the orchestra had. It just didn't have that big, brassy, Broadway musical flash. At the same time... when I saw that Fosse dancer Ann Reinking would be choreographing, I thought I'd be in for a musical treat. Joke. Numbers that totally screamed sass and class in the other film like "The Telephone Hour," "How Lovely to Be a Woman," "Honestly Sincere," "Lot of Livin' to Do," "Rosie" and... well, basically every other song... just lacked the spunk and vivacity needed here. Even Rosie's dance with the shriners came out like... well... like Fosse gone bad.
I know Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde just hated the 1963 movie, but I promise them that they did all right by me.
All in all, I honestly can't say that I recommend this film. I do, however, recommend it to people who would like to see Vanessa Williams do a terrific job as Rosie or would like to see "Bye Bye Birdie" in a version closer to the Broadway show.