Review: The Prom, Netflix
"One Thing's Universal, Life's No Dress Rehearsal!"
The Prom has finally arrived on Netflix after an eight month delay and let me tell you, it was definitely worth the wait. The film is everything it needed to be and more, whilst building on the original story.
For those who don't know, the plot follows a young girl Emma (portrayed brilliantly by newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman) who wants to go to the prom with her girlfriend Alyssa (played by Ariana Debose) in Indiana. Meanwhile, Broadway stars Dee Dee Allen, Barry Glickman, Angie Dickinson and Trent Oliver are slammed in the press; they march down to Indiana to the “town looks like the end of Act One of Les Mis" to ensure Emma gets the prom she deserves.
It's a fine narrative line to tread; celebrities who, at the beginning, don't care about Emma and are only there for publicity, and a girl who really doesn't want to be a "symbol or cautionary tale", but the writers handle it beautifully; creating a musical that is both modern and timeless in its story of love and acceptance.
With a cast of Broadway stars including Meryl Streep, James Corden, Andrew Rannells and Nicole Kidman, did we ever expect anything less than brilliant, really? Each cast member delivers their songs wonderfully, with highlights being "It's Not About Me" (a number which is clearly, very much, about Streep's character Dee Dee) and "Tonight Belongs To You", an amazing Act 1 finale that leaves you utterly heartbroken in seconds. Throughout the film, there are glimmers of the original Broadway choreography that keeps The Prom grounded in its theatrical roots, whilst adding in new story elements gives more depth to these larger than life characters.
Really, I could list all of the numbers here in the film's highlights, as they each stand as strong as the last. But you'd get bored of that when you could be watching The Prom right now!
This film will truly open your heart and hopefully across the globe, will prompt conversations about intolerance and acceptance and in turn, make the world a better place.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Callum Wallace
