LA LA Land Movie Voodoo Review By Chris Hembury

LA LA LAND ***

I adored Whiplash and eagerly anticipated the Director's Damien Chazelle follow up and so it has arrived in the form of (take a breath) a Romantic Comedy Musical Drama - LA LA Land. 

We see the budding romance between struggling musician Ryan Gosling and struggling actress Emma Stone and believe me they make a big song and dance about it ;)

The musical side of this genre is full of passion and life paying tribute to the nostalgic Hollywood glory days of the genre whilst moving it forward into the present day. 

The film starts with a average day in LA... a traffic tram! But soon within minutes becomes the crowd pleasing, tone setting opening number of musical glee. 

Self aware and contemporary the camera glides through the scene in seemingly well choreographed Steadicam shot.

Here we meet Emma Stone's struggling actress, to Ryan Gosling's struggling Musician both living in LA but both not living the dream - as one would have hoped. Eventually after the standard Rom/Com beats are walked through - Love is to blossom - but ironically only when it does there seems to be somewhat weakness in the story.

Spoiler Alert

The tension in the story erupts from the unemployed Gosling taking advice from Stone and getting a "real" job. Here his first "real" job happens to be a lead member of a overnight successful band and he travels the country making tons of money using his natural musical talents - sure beats working 50hrs a week at McDonald's.

On the flip side of this seemingly awful "Hell", Stone quits her day job of serving coffee on the Warner Brothers lot to become a full time unemployed play wright - clearly not taking her own advice. 


And when that "horrible" bread winning boyfriend then takes time out of his hectic schedule to travel back across the country just to surprise his Girlfriend and cook her dinner, how fitting they have their first big row.

He is pulled to task on not playing the type of music he loves, instead he advised he should quit and to continue on his ambition of starting his own jazz club with no money and no savings.  At this point it looks like Stone's Character is truly living in "LA LA Land" indeed. 

Later the tables are turned and she becomes a successful actor with Gosling supporting her totally making the sacrificing pledge that they should split so she could concentrate totally on her opportunity. A supportive partner indeed with Stone replying she will always love him. Cut to five years later when she's a Hollywood superstar, married someone to else and had their baby - Romeo and Juliet indeed this is not. 

The ending seems rushed and somewhat deluded in order to comply with a clever idea of a third dream but in orchestrating in this manner to me doesn't ring true to character of Stone or what we've just spent two hours setting up.

But hey this is a musical! Sure it's running time is a little to generous for a somewhat uncomplicated story but this film is made form start to finish with bucket loads of passion from every department. 

The Director takes this genre and wears his heart in his sleeve sucking in some beautiful natural lighting, sunsets and set pieces celebrating L.A natural charm. 

Talking of charm the lead actors have plenty - oozing it from the screen and thoroughly enjoying any opportunity to sing and dance the genre to pride. 

This film is escapism and as long as you take yourself to "La La Land" in the first place, you will surely have a nice enjoyable time in this nostalgic wink to classic Hollywood and contemporary L.A. 

By Chris Hembury