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Netflix review: Ryan Murphy turns Broadway's 'The Prom' into a star-studded 'Glee' special

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Fred Hawson

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/12/13/eleanor.jpg"/><figcaption>A scene from &#x27;The Prom.&#x27; Handout</figcaption></figure></div><p>Self-absorbed Broadway stars Dee Dee Allen (Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (James Corden)&#x27; latest show &quot;Eleanor! The Eleanor Roosevelt Musical&quot; just closed on opening night with terrible reviews. To prove that they were not the narcissistic celebrities they are accused of, they looked for a cause they can try to help solve, thinking that the good publicity will wash their names clean, and put them back into the favor of the press and the Tonys.</p><p>Meanwhile, in Edgewater, Indiana, controversy was brewing in James Madison High School, where their bigoted PTA had decided to cancel prom night because Emma Nolan (Jo Ellen Pellman), a 17 year-old lesbian student wanted to bring a female date. Little did the closed-minded PTA president Mrs. Greene (Kerry Washington) know that Emma&#x27;s girlfriend was actually her own daughter Alyssa (Ariana DeBose), who was still in the closet. </p><p>Gay icon Dee Dee and unabashedly gay Barry thought that Emma&#x27;s civil rights case was the perfect opportunity for them to intervene and make a major statement Their friends, constantly ignored chorus girl Angie Dickinson (Nicole Kidman) and currently gig-less actor Trent Oliver (Andrew Rannells), join them on their mission to bring their liberal Broadway sensibilities to fight the outdated conservatism that pervades America&#x27;s heartland. </p><p>Right off the bat, director Ryan Murphy wanted us to know that he was sparing no expense for this project. There was immediately a grand and glittery musical extravaganza atmosphere with the elaborate and high-energy opening number &quot;Changing Lives,&quot; featuring Dee Dee and Barry celebrating on the opening night of their latest show together. This elaborate number went from the red carpet, onto the stage, and into the after-party awaiting reviews.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TJ0jBNa6JUQ?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Meryl Streep&#x27;s Dee Dee made her grand entrance into Emma&#x27;s school with the showstopping &quot;It&#x27;s Not About Me&quot; channeling Eva Peron, catching the eye of principal Mr. Tom Hawkins (Keegan Michael-Key), who was a huge fan of hers. Later, she would perform Dee Dee&#x27;s iconic song &quot;The Lady&#x27;s Improving&quot; for Tom right in his office. These two lung-busting song numbers really showcased Streep&#x27;s vocal range and comic timing, but there were scenes where she was too Patti LuPone for comfort. </p><p>Fresh from his maligned performance in &quot;Cats,&quot; James Corden may have proven that he is not really cut out to be a movie actor with his awkward, over-the-top performance here as Barry. His songs, like &quot;Tonight Belongs to You&quot; as Barry was giving Emma a makeover, or &quot;Barry Goes to the Prom&quot; as Barry recalled his own sad prom night experience, only had his goofy and enthusiastic &quot;Car Pool Karaoke&quot; goodwill going for them. </p><p>Underused Nicole Kidman, in full Roxy Hart &quot;Chicago&quot; mode, had her own jazzy solo number &quot;Zazz&quot; encouraging Emma to express herself. Andrew Rannell&#x27;s best number was &quot;Love Thy Neighbor&quot; performed with teenagers in the fountain area of the mall with a definite &quot;Godspell&quot; vibe. He had another song about inclusivity called &quot;The Acceptance Song,&quot; which was unfortunately booed off when he tried to sing it in a monster truck arena of all places. </p><p>Twenty-four-year-old Jo Ellen Pellman makes an auspicious film debut here as Emma Nolan. Her introductory song &quot;Just Breathe&quot; which Pellman sung with a definite &quot;Once on this Island&quot; lilt, related how Emma coped with her daily ordeal in school. She had another song later in the film entitled &quot;Unruly Heart&quot; which had her playing the guitar while singing, with a strong message echoing LGBTQ&#x27;s endless quest for acceptance in modern society. </p><p>Obviously 29-year old Ariana DeBose played Emma&#x27;s partner Alyssa had her own moment with her dramatic solo number &quot;Alyssa Greene&quot; which told about her own predicament while she was trapped in the closet by her imperious mother. &quot;Dance with You&quot; was a pretty romantic duet between Emma and Alyssa, as the embattled duo walked in a whimsical garden glittery purple lights. The final song &quot;Wear Your Crown&quot; had a &quot;Hairspray&quot;-like excitement.</p><p>Comedian Keegan-Michael Key was a pleasant surprise when he had a song number himself. Musical theater fans will all identify with Mr. Hawkin&#x27;s wistful song &quot;We Look To You&quot; as he earnestly related to Dee Dee why a secondary school administrator like him would save up to go to the theater, hoping to escape the drudgery of reality by being brought to a place of fantasy by their favorite stage performers.</p><p>The message of inclusivity and LGBT rights is in most Ryan Murphy&#x27;s projects from &quot;Glee&quot; to &quot;Pose,&quot; even in his two recent Netflix drama series &quot;Hollywood&quot; and &quot;Ratched.&quot; &quot;The Prom&quot; was a lot of fun and exuberant, very campy and gay. </p><p>Those perky song numbers come one after the other with extravagantly colorful sets, electric youthful choreography and the full Broadway treatment musical theater fans would definitely love.</p><p>This review was originally published in the author&#x27;s blog, &quot;<a href="https://said-fred.blogspot.com/2020/12/netflix-review-of-prom-illuminating.html">Fred Said</a>.&quot;</p><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D7YvcaAJdGA?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Right off the bat, director Ryan Murphy wanted us to know that he was sparing no expense for 'The Prom.'</p>

Right off the bat, director Ryan Murphy wanted us to know that he was sparing no expense for 'The Prom.'