The Prom
2020 · Directed by Ryan Murphy
Original language: English
- romance
- comedy
The story
After the PTA of a conservative high school in Indiana bans same-sex couples from attending the annual prom, a gang of flamboyant Broadway stars try to boost their image by showing up to support two lesbian students.
What it’s like
Saturated, candy-bright colour and big, sweeping musical staging, with the small-town Indiana high school rendered in flat suburban daylight, all beige hallways and gymnasium fluorescents, until the Broadway performers arrive and the frame blooms into glitter, sequins and stagey pastel spectacle. Camera moves are loose and energetic, with ensemble numbers cut quickly and tracking shots that follow dancers through car parks and school corridors. The score is brassy, pop-leaning show tunes with plenty of choral swell and a few tender ballads that slow things down. Vibe: campy, warm and bright, with a sweetness that stays cheerful even when the bigotry on screen is ugly. Moments that suit it include a lazy weekend afternoon, a light-hearted group watch, or a comfort musical when you want to feel good. Pacing is brisk and theatrical, moving between broad comedy and earnest, soft-hearted romance. Its arcs follow self-absorbed performers slowly learning empathy, and a teenage couple who want only to be allowed to dance together. Intensity is low: there is mild verbal cruelty and bullying, some sharp insults, no violence, no gore, and only light suggestive innuendo. It suits people who want an upbeat, funny, openhearted musical with a clear message about acceptance.
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