Xanadu falters
TBy Cathy Hedgecock
An attempt to revive the rousing, romantic musicals of the 1940s is a dull disappointment.
The thin plot of “Xanadu” is built around numerous flashy musical dance spots, which, with a few auspicious exceptions, are long, repetitious and unoriginal.
The whole film is like a poorly constructed building no musical foundation for support and no exciting story to cement it together.
The major crime of “Xanadu” is the waste and misuse of excellent raw materials. The potential of the film is evident in the few bright spots which sneak in.
Star Olivia Newton-John, unquestionably an exceptional singer, cannot fill the dancing shoes of her role, and her acting is little more than reading lines and looking sweet.
Sweetness is a key ingredient of her role as Kira, a fairy Muse, daughter of mythology’s god Zeus, but personality should have replaced some of the wide-eyed innocence.
Kira is sent to Earth to bring about the renovation of a huge dance club, “Xanadu.” A young painter, Sonny Malone (Michael Beck), and a former musician, Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly), meet and become partners in the project with some magical help from Kira.
Danny and Sonny’s dreams of the club’s musical opening make up the best scene of the whole movie. Danny’s big band sound is a sharp contrast to Sonny’s screaming rock and roll, but the two bands and their dancers begin to complement each other and come together for an energetic finale.
The dancers are excellent throughout the film but are confined by simplistic routines. Kelly is the film’s dancing gem; however, his talent is kept under lock and key and allowed to shine only briefly.
The other bright spot of “Xanadu” comes at the beginning of the film when Kira and her sisters spring to life from a huge mural. Bathed in special-effect lighting, the sisters perform a joyous celebration of freedom which is both soothing and enlivening.
While on Earth, Kira travels mostly by roller skates. Skating scenes make up a large part of the film, generally adding little and limiting the possible variety of dance movements.
After Kira and Sonny meet, they naturally complicate things by falling in love. Love in this case consists of soulful looks but little action. The only amorous acavity is in cartoon form. Although the cartoon quality is very good, the idea seems rather juvenile.
Out of his love for Kira, Sonny asks daddy Zeus to let her stay on Earth permanently. There is little suspense as to what his answer will be.
Beck as Sonny does neither a wonderful nor terrible job with his lackluster role. He comes across as an average actor playing an average part.
The long, flashy but dull opening night of “Xanadu” brings the picture to a welcome end. An abundance of costume changes cannot pass for entertainment.
The idea for “Xanadu,” a musical relief from today’s horror and violence flicks, never realizes its potential in this film. Some may enjoy the light fantasy, but most will he bored and disappointed.
“Xanadu” is now playing at the Century 6 complex at the corner of Arden and Ethan ways.