I thought "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" was the worst film I had ever seen until I saw "Funny Lady."
It is pathetically obvious that the only reason this movie was made was to make money. Yes, Barbra can sing -- no question about that. But in this film she is already a "star." In "Funny Girl," we enjoyed seeing her climb her way from nothing to something. In this one, she is static. From the instant the movie starts, it shouts, "This is a sequel to make money!" There's no heart or soul.
Barbra, as Fanny, keeps calling Billy Rose (James Caan) "kid" -- but in truth, James was older than Barbra. Yes, in real life, Fanny was older than Billy, by 8 years. But, c'mon, "kid"?
Also, and not blaming James, but the Billy Rose character is the kind you want to slap and throw out of the room. He was so obnoxious and righteous and arrogant. You'd look at this person and say, "Someone as awful as you could not have possibly written 'More Than You Know.'"
The movie doesn't come alive until Ben Vereen has his big dance number, where he completely steals the movie from Barbra.
And despite Barbra's fabulous beaded gown, "Great Day" was so shockingly bad that my husband and I were howling.
Barbra bulldozes her ways through her scenes. Yes, she is funny; yes, she can deliver a punch line; yes, when she sings, all eyes and ears are on her. But, sorry, everyone connected with this disaster was obviously doing so for the money.
I was also really offended when Billy asks Fanny's lawyer, "Who's the pansy?" (in reference to Fanny's "secretary" (Roddy McDowall). Yes, probably that's what would have been said, but knowing how many gay fans Barbra has, I wonder if it ever crossed anyone's mind that that cruel word might upset them? I doubt it.
Just awful. The one star is for the Ben Vereen number, even thought it was essentially racist.
It is pathetically obvious that the only reason this movie was made was to make money. Yes, Barbra can sing -- no question about that. But in this film she is already a "star." In "Funny Girl," we enjoyed seeing her climb her way from nothing to something. In this one, she is static. From the instant the movie starts, it shouts, "This is a sequel to make money!" There's no heart or soul.
Barbra, as Fanny, keeps calling Billy Rose (James Caan) "kid" -- but in truth, James was older than Barbra. Yes, in real life, Fanny was older than Billy, by 8 years. But, c'mon, "kid"?
Also, and not blaming James, but the Billy Rose character is the kind you want to slap and throw out of the room. He was so obnoxious and righteous and arrogant. You'd look at this person and say, "Someone as awful as you could not have possibly written 'More Than You Know.'"
The movie doesn't come alive until Ben Vereen has his big dance number, where he completely steals the movie from Barbra.
And despite Barbra's fabulous beaded gown, "Great Day" was so shockingly bad that my husband and I were howling.
Barbra bulldozes her ways through her scenes. Yes, she is funny; yes, she can deliver a punch line; yes, when she sings, all eyes and ears are on her. But, sorry, everyone connected with this disaster was obviously doing so for the money.
I was also really offended when Billy asks Fanny's lawyer, "Who's the pansy?" (in reference to Fanny's "secretary" (Roddy McDowall). Yes, probably that's what would have been said, but knowing how many gay fans Barbra has, I wonder if it ever crossed anyone's mind that that cruel word might upset them? I doubt it.
Just awful. The one star is for the Ben Vereen number, even thought it was essentially racist.