Chicago

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 27, 2002

DVD Release Date: August 19, 2003

Plot 411: After shooting her lover, Roxie reaches for stardom to save her from the gallows.

Review: This musical stars Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart, a 1920s housewife who is having an affair with Fred (Dominic West) to increase her chances of starring in a vaudeville show. When he reveals that he has no connections to showbiz, she kills him. Roxie tries to convince her husband (John C. Reilly) that she's innocent but is put in jail anyway. In the slammer, she meets a real vaudeville star named Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Velma's lawyer Billy (Richard Gere) takes on Roxie's case and both women become newspaper darlings, especially when gossip reporter Mary Sunshine (Christine Baranski) writes up their stories. They fight each other for the front page and celebrity in an effort to become so famous that they can't be executed. They will stop at nothing to make headlines, including falsifying a pregnancy. The musical is a comment on society's unhealthy attraction to fame and how it can cause corruption in the system. I don't think this only applies to the '20s when journalism was pretty unethical anyway. I mean, look at all the tabloids and blogs catering to this type of news nowadays. The individual performances (both singing and dancing) by the cast is amazing. Who knew Richard Gere could sing? My favorite number is definitely Mr. Cellophane by John C. Reilly though. Queen Latifah also has a hand in this film as Mama, Roxie and Velma's warden. They did a really good job of transferring a stage production to film, and I liked how they kept some of the set pieces to make it look like a stage show.

Watch It: For really great singing and dancing numbers. They don't make musicals like this anymore and it makes me long for a musical revival. Bring back the Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire flicks!

Skip It: If musicals aren't your bag of tea because this is fully a musical. There are dream sequences especially so the actors can break into song.

On The Town

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: December 30, 1949

DVD Release Date: May 13, 2008

Plot 411: Three sailors dock in New York and have 24 hours to enjoy the sights.

Review: This is another one of my favorites. There's just something about Gene Kelly musicals that make me smile. The idea of three sailors dashing around New York City trying to see all the sights and pick up the pretty girls is classic. There are some great song and dance numbers throughout. You really come to realize that the world is smaller than you think and home is not so far away. Frank Sinatra and Ann Miller also star in this flick.

Watch It: If you like movies that make you want to kick up your heels and dance the night away, even if you don't have a rhythmic bone in your body (like me).

Skip It: If Milli Vanilli is the closest you'll get to dudes lip singing and dancing.

Film Clip:

Shall We Dance

Rated: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: May 7, 1937

DVD Release Date: August 16, 2005

Plot 411: The lives of two dancers get turned upside down when the press begins to circulate rumors that they are married.

Review: I'm a sucker for dance movies no matter how long ago they were made. Throw in a little singing and I'm in heaven. This movie served up both with great enthusiasm. Somehow you just can't beat the Golden Era of movie making. I do believe this was the first Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers film I ever watched. I've seen a bunch of Gene Kelly films though and I think I like his dance style better. Despite that, this was a fun movie to watch. There is humor throughout and the convoluted relationship that Astaire and Rodgers have make for some hysterical scenes.

Watch It: If you're not afraid of being called "twinkle toes."

Skip It: If you think all male dancers are gay.

Movie Clip: