Tag Archives: jersey boys

DVD review: ‘Jersey Boys’ best when singing

Posted on by
Reply

Film Review-Jersey Boys

‘Jersey Boys’ tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. (Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.)

When the end credits began to roll during the screening of “Jersey Boys,” a woman sitting next to me, who I did not know and who appeared to be at least 10 years older than I am, posed this question to me: “Have you seen the stage play?” I, of course, responded honestly, “No, I have not.” To which she replied with one single sentence of three words, “Oh, it’s wonderful!” And our conversation was over.

I left the theatre wondering what she thought of “Jersey Boys” the movie. I had a pretty clear idea of what she thought about the play. However, her endorsement of the stage production almost seemed to be a condemnation of the film. She did not say, “The stage play is far better than this film.” Nor did she say, “The film is as good as the play.” Or, “The play exceeds the film, but the film was still pretty good.” She only seemed to want to convey one thought to me. “The play is wonderful.”

Going in I only knew of the film what little I had read about it, and the trailer I had seen many times before viewing other films. My musings here are only my reactions to the film; but hey, I hear the play is wonderful.

First, this is a musical with great songs. In case anyone does not know, this is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. If you like their music, which I do, then you will find your toes tapping and you may even sing along, just do it softly with respect to those sitting around you.

I also liked the way the narration is delivered in character by the actors. I assume this is an element lifted from the play, and it gives the film a real stage atmosphere, plus it shares great insight into the events happening on screen.

I am not sure exactly how much the four actors resemble the real Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, but I liked the performances and thought the actors were fine in the roles. I especially liked Christopher Walken’s supporting role as a “friend” of the group. It was good to see Walken play a role closer to the father in “Catch Me If You Can” rather than some of the stranger characters he has embodied through the years.

And of course, the film is directed by Clint Eastwood who has given us two Best Picture Winners (“Unforgiven” and “Million Dollar Baby”), a third that should have won (“Letters from Iwo Jima”), plus such great works as “Mystic River,” “Changling” and “Gran Torino,” just to name a few.

I would put “Jersey Boys” on a lower tier than any of those works. It is not a bad film. The problem is that the film is at its best when the boys are singing. Some of the early exploits are humorous and fun, but in the end, and I am sure this is historically accurate; the real drama comes when fame and success ruin what they have.

How many times have we seen self-destruction on the big screen? How many films have told true stories of individuals or groups who are their own worst enemies? When “Jersey Boys” begins the downward spiral, the film becomes all too familiar and less than it was.

So, for me, it is a mixed review. I liked a good portion of it, especially the musical numbers and the narration. But, much of this film is a journey already taken in many other films.

Eastwood has done better, and let’s hope he keeps making films, rather than his other gig: talking to furniture. Unlike the woman who sat next to me proclaimed of the play, I cannot state that the film “Jersey Boys” from start to finish is “wonderful.”