Xanadu attempts too much
At The Cinema, By Hans Petrovic
“XANADU” Directed by Robert Greenwald. Written by Richard Christian Danus and Marc Reid Rubel.
Even if nothing else, “Xanadu” (Savoy) is an excellent vehicle to show off the many talents of Olivia Newton-John.
The lovely Olivia certainly has come a long way since her early days on Melbourne television.
Here, she adds her beaming smile to her pleasant singing voice and a surprisingly good dancing ability.
But attempting at times to recapture some of the magic of the old Hollywood, musicals, “Xanadu” fails by trying to tie it in with some of today’s more frantic disco style.
I mean, what is a Glen Miller-type band doing with a freaky rock group is the film trying to please people of all ages? If so, it probably will suit no-one.
Then again, when it comes to the dance numbers, the imaginative choreography is some of the best seen in recent films, even if it includes some time-tested gimmicks.
Here, the crazy jitterbugging and zoot suits of the almost blend with the seemingly more outlandish rocking and dress of the 80s - actually, they both look way out.
The other dance routines include everything from frolicking on a city roof top, on to a desert oasis and some dancin’ and singin’ in the rain.
Gene Kelly and Olivia, in war-time uniform, even add a touch of nostalgia in an old-time tap dance routine.
If the film had just concentrated on its song and dance it might have done better than trying to tie it together with an idiotic, musical fantasy story.
“Xanadu” should have been left in the hands of Kubla-Khan and Citizen Kane, and the less said about the story the better.
Besides adding a touch of class, what is Gene Kelly doing in his film? We see him first as some kind of stranger on the shore, playing a clarinet on a beach.
He does that nice dance number with Olivia, but spends most of the rest of the time in motion on roller skates. Sad to say, possibly he is getting old.
Kelly still breaks out with his winning smile occasionally, but I fear it is a smile of embarrassment because his heart just does not seem in it.
Michael Beck (“The Warriors”) is sufficiently good looking for the romantic role, but his style of delivery is so wooden that next time he might be better cast as an Ent in the continuing saga of “The Lord of the Rings.”
This magical mystery tour is the first full feature film effort by the director (Robert Greenwald) and I can’t help feeling that he tried too hard at something that should come across as a light, bouncy and happy musical.