Good concept, poorly executed.

Excellent but underrated film

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Favorite movie to watch again and again! Great story, great message and great music!

Burlesque (2010): Dir: Steve Antin / Cast: Christina Aguilera, Cher, Stanley Tucci, Eric Dane, Kristen Bell: Total xerox of Showgirls as if that is much of an inspiration. It regards expression and how a small town waitress ventured to Las Angeles in hopes of becoming a sensation. Director Steve Antin is backed by several energetic musical numbers that are full of flair but the story is just a recycled mess. Christina Aguilera is traveling familiar territory from small town to big time impressing everyone. She definitely has the pipes to carry a concert but as an actress she isn't quite as polished as someone in the heights of Cher, but as a musician she holds her own. Cher is the one solid performance as club owner struggling to pay to keep her business. We know that she will be impressed with Aguilera and ultimately save the club, but saving the film is beyond her reach. Eric Dane as the bartender whom allows Aguilera a place to crash is a complete prop. He is basically there to romance her while talking about an out of town girlfriend who is not available just enough so that it becomes unnecessary. Stanley Tucci plays Cher's gay production director who assists Aguilera while providing emotional support for Cher. Even Kristen Bell makes an appearance and all her charm cannot muster up a hint of originality. The dance numbers are not bad, and sometimes even flashy and inspiring but it is within a screenplay that is anything but inspiring. Not so much about dancing as it is its lame sidetracked subplots that we have seen in a dozen other films about hopeless dreamers. Score: 3 ½ / 10

Have to start by saying the film has little to do with Burlesque, other than some skimpy outfits.But that's fine - it more than makes up for that with the excellent soundtrack.The storyline is far from original, small town girl makes it big. But it's a feel good storyline nonetheless.Acting is good throughout, but secondary to Christinas phenomenal voice. If I'm honest, I was never a fan of the pop music she's sung, but this film clearly shows she really is a talented artist.So faults aside, why give it an 8 ? Because if you enjoyed the film and the songs, you'll doubtless watch it a few times - and I'll give it an 8 for that reason alone.So few films have a rewatch value these days, but this is definitely one to savour - just make sure you listen on a good sound system.

TL;DR: Good musical entertainment, not a good MOVIE as a whole. Come for music and dance, not for acting and plot. To be enjoyed in musical zombie mode. Straight to the point, Burlesque's musical numbers are exciting and attractive but has almost no plot (at least not as far as it tries to make me care). I watched this with my mother who knows little English so she only enjoyed the musical numbers and the pretty faces. Later, I felt like that was all I enjoyed too. Good thing for the film, the music is frequent and enjoyable.On the other hand, the layers to the story are simple: a financially- troubled club, a small-town hopeful and a love interest. Despite working on very familiar premises for a plot, the film makes no effort whatsoever to make any magic happen. The story doesn't take the back seat, it's in the trunk. I didn't care what happened to any of the characters as long as they lived to perform another song. However, the script-writing does win some points for its witty humor, which would have helped inspire more praises if only the story was as good as the songs.