Xanadu: The Musical [Review]

Do you remember skating arenas? I do. I loved skating around to the loud catchy tunes and flashing lights of my hometown arena.Though, I never did master the whole skating backwards thing.  If you share in my nostalgic sentiment then Xanadu, staring Olivia Newton John, Gene Kelly, and Micheal Beck, might be a worthwhile treat for you to watch.

Directed by  Robert Greenwald, Xanadu's plot involves a down on his luck graphic artist (Beck) meeting a muse (Newton John) who inspires him to open up a club/ roller skating arena. However, they fall in love and are forbidden to be together (since she's a muse and he is a mortal). Yep, this is the big conflict of the film.

This film, set and recorded in the 80's offer a look back at the big hair and leotards that left their mark on the decade. The cast plays their respective roles well. Gene Kelly, dance legend extraordinaire, is amazing as the would be owner of Xanadu. I waited anxiously for the time when he would dance/tap. Its like watching a Julia Roberts moving waiting for her big teeth smile and laugh. Audience members have their expectations. Getting back to Gene; he tapped as gracefully and agile as ever along side Olivia Newton John. Olivia, who originally hails from Australia, did little to mask her accent. But it worked since she was this mysterious muse.

The transitions and film angles seemed in keeping with the theme of a roller skating movie. That is glowing lights were used to outline the actors as various intervals and the transitions, which were cool at the time, remind me of the trial version of Powerpoint 1997. (A bit of a back handed compliment if ever there was one)

Ultimately, musicals are meant to entertain and make you feel good. Which this movie did. Thankfully, the cheesiness normally associated with musicals was minimized in characterization and just seemed  more amplified in the "lets find something glitzy for Gene Kelly to put on" scene. I would give this film a 4 out of 5 stars. (this is based on the fact that its production value was much higher 20+ years ago and that it had Gene Kelly in it) Now to go buy some skates.