★★★★★ After becoming a smash hit—and playing on Broadway now for over two decades—it would have been easy to make a rushed, condensed version of Wicked that failed to live up to the Tony-winning hype of its show counterpart. I still remember hearing about the concept for the first time when I was in high … Continue reading Film Review: Wicked
Theater Review: Maybe Happy Ending
Back in 2015, nearly a decade ago at this point, Glee's Darren Criss replaced Neil Patrick Harris in Broadway's Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Belasco Theater. My mom surprised me with some wonderfully close orchestra tickets, and the rest, as they say, is history. Being a big fan of the movie and its … Continue reading Theater Review: Maybe Happy Ending
Theater Review: Once Upon a Mattress
Sutton Foster soars in Broadway’s snazzy new update of Once Upon a Mattress, on the Great White Way for the first time since 1996. One’s familiarity with the classic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” should not impede upon their enjoyment of this hilariously off-kilter throwback musical. Despite being weary of checking out another … Continue reading Theater Review: Once Upon a Mattress
Annecy 2024: Spermageddon
★★★★ In case a reminder was needed that animation can be just as much for adults as for children, look no further than raunchy, ridiculously fun musical comedy, Spermageddon. This 3D-animated outrageous Norwegian import charts the path of the innumerable sperm cells living inside the ballsack of teenage nerd-gamer, Jens (Christian Mikkelsen), on their way … Continue reading Annecy 2024: Spermageddon
Film Review: Glitter & Doom
★★★ From the same director as adorably underrated 2008 gay musical, Were the World Mine, comes a sparkly new rom-com-ical with a lovable couple at its center. Glitter & Doom sells itself as an Indigo Girls jukebox musical. Certainly, the film is a full-on extravaganza, complete with duets, impressive dancing choreography, and bright visuals bursting … Continue reading Film Review: Glitter & Doom
Film Review: The Archies
★★★★ Armed with a limited knowledge of Bollywood including a small segment of Shah Rukh Khan movies and the exceptionally fun Koi… Mil Gaya franchise, I was anxious for a musical version of one of my favorite TV shows. Comic adaptation The Archies arrives on the heels of CW’s Riverdale series coming to a close … Continue reading Film Review: The Archies
Film Review: Journey to Bethlehem
★★★ The mere notion that Ryan Murphy Productions mainstay and musical wunderkind Adam Anders was finally releasing a directorial debut made inspirational Journey to Bethlehem an instant must-see. How would this four-time Grammy nominee, who helped produce and arrange hundreds of chart-topping Glee hits, fare behind the director’s chair? I don’t consider myself an intensely … Continue reading Film Review: Journey to Bethlehem
Woodstock 2023: Slide
★★★★ Legendary animator Bill Plympton brings to life his first film since 2016’s Revengeance: the vibrant, outrageous, and endlessly entertaining musical/comedy/western, Slide. Named after its completely mute lead character and his “slide guitar,” this surreal movie overflows with ideas and mesmerizing imagery. Plympton individually animates every frame of his films himself, via his own Plymptoons … Continue reading Woodstock 2023: Slide
Fantasia 2023: Killing Romance
★★★★ What do you get when you take the quirkiness of Wes Anderson and blend it with Korean slapstick humor and a dash of love triangle? The answer comes courtesy of director Lee Won-suk and writer Park Jeong-ye collaboration, Killing Romance! Bursting with originality and fart jokes, this unconventional comedy lets loose a chaotic ostrich … Continue reading Fantasia 2023: Killing Romance
Film Review: The Little Mermaid
★★★ Love them or hate them, the live action Disney remake is here to stay. The newest, 2023’s reimagining of The Little Mermaid, seems to be one of the most divisive yet, judging by early online reactions. For me, the film was a long time coming—as a child, I would rewatch the 1989 original on … Continue reading Film Review: The Little Mermaid