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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Salesrank: 18330
Released: February 27, 2001 |
| Our Price: $4.53 |
| Used Price: $4.50 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Set in America's heartland, this timeless musical tells the story of two young teens who find true love with the help of their fathers, a traveling carnival road show... and, of course, a little magic. This 1995 film was directed by Michael Ritchie and stars Joel Grey, Barnard Hughes, Jean Louisa Kelly, and Joe McIntyre. Based on the long-running off-off-Broadway musical by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt.
Description of The Fantasticks:
Having opened off-Broadway in 1960 and still going strong, The Fantasticks would seem a natural for the movies. Or would it? The musical's charm hangs on a particular kind of intimate magic incubated exclusively in live theater. This didn't stop the chiefs of rudderless United Artists from bankrolling a film version in 1995, closely scripted from the play by original authors Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. With the movie finished, the studio deduced there was no mass audience for the old-fashioned, stage-struck musical, and promptly set it on the shelf for five years.
A slimmer version of the film was briefly released to theaters in 2000, after being cut by Francis Coppola (with the approval of director Michael Ritchie). The cutting, sometimes within songs, seems capricious--if the movie was destined to be a flop either way, why not let it play out at full length? All of this ought to set off alarm bells... and yet, it turns out there's a bit of theatrical pixie dust left in the old thing after all. Ritchie and topnotch cinematographer Fred Murphy shoot many of the songs beautifully, setting them in the film's postcard-Midwest magic hour (best seen on the widescreen DVD). The genial tone, though admittedly precious, makes for a pleasant ride. It's a movie preadolescent girls can watch with their grandmothers without embarrassment on either side. Playing the archetypal boy and girl are former New Kid on the Block Joe McIntyre and Mr. Holland's Opus songbird Jean Louisa Kelly; he fits the part of an amiable doofus very well, while Kelly has the breathless dreaminess of youth and an intriguing undercurrent of restlessness. Their feuding fathers are the able Joel Grey and Brad Sullivan, and Jonathan Morris looks every inch the carnival maestro who gives these simple folk a glimpse at their dreams. Curiously, the show's signature song ("Try to Remember") is given only an abbreviated airing at the end. And how dare they cut "Plant a Radish"? --Robert Horton
The Fantasticks Reviews:
Shockingly Bad 
2008-02-25 - There was a reason why this film played in theaters for about 5 minutes, people stayed away in record numbers!! Goes into the "What Were They Thinking?" file. Terribly done, a misguided mess that ruins the score and plot,is totally void of charm. The performances are mediocre , at best. Transposing The Fantastiks to a realistic setting was a huge mistake and robs the audience of it's imagination, which is the key to The Fantastiks success. Should have been filmed on a black soundstage, much in the same way as the stage production. Stay away from this, go see a local community theater production instead, you'll enjoy it far more.
An interesting take... 
2008-01-14 - The Fantasticks is a delightful show, full of metaphor. If you don't like metaphor, don't bother. If you do, this is a must for your collection. The two fathers make the show for me, so bumbling, but so in love with their children they'd do whatever it takes to make it work. Joel Gray is superb. And at this point in my life, "Try to Remember" always brings a tear...
The Fantasticks movie version
2007-11-23 - This is a terrible version of the well known OFF BROADWAY production. The simplicity of the stage production which invites the audience to 'remember, then follow' is completely destroyed by the inexplicable transformation of the characters of El Gallo, The Mute, Mortimer and Henry to performers in a traving circus side show. There are also changes to the music, in an attempt to be 'politically correct', which insult the intelligence of the theater going audience.
The copy that I received is flawed and freezes irratically necessitating fast forwarding to the next 'chapter'.
Not terrible as some say, but a disappointment 
2007-08-13 - I've seen Sullivan Street and Snapple Center stage versions and consider myself a knowledgeable fan--I can't be as harsh as others, but there are some disappointments for sure.
It's a movie, so they're going to "open it out" and the traveling carnival concept is not bad and worked sometimes ("You are Love") and even "Soon It's Gonna Rain" but the "carnies" often distract: during the abduction song and especially the abduction scene--more Henry and Mortimer and fewer extras, please.
Also, what's with the bawdy sight gags during what on stage is the "On the Road to an Episode" scene--did someone's junior high-age son sneak onto the computer--so out of sync with the entire show! Plus side, the expanded dancing scenes added a lot.
A big problem is the literal script, I'm surprised to see Schmidt and Jones wrote it. Too many things are explained (though it enhanced the "Let's Just Dance" sequence). Trust the material, people get it!
Casting was mostly strong--I LIKED El Gallo--less effected than most--Luisa was fantastic! Joel Grey, always a joy. But Joe McIntyre at best ordinary and at worst looked amateur. Barnard Hughes was great but his part criminally cut, and the great talents of Teller absolutely wasted! Overall, a disappointment but I wouldn't blame the "carnival" concept, but rather some choices made within that idea.
I do think any fan should view it at some point--if only for the (strong, methinks) interpretation of El Gallo, Joel Grey, Jean Louisa Kelly as Luisa, some great photography and the informed arguments one can make with fellow "Fantasticks" fans!
Fantasticks butchered 
2007-07-20 - Other reviewers give essential information on the editing of this film. Here's my review: Coppola butchered the thing. The narrative has been stripped of any sub plots, any minor characters, any scenes that would flesh out these few characters and their story. The two lovers acquire the needed hardship to make their love meaningful in so few minutes it's difficult to see before and after differences. After seeing the thing straight through, I went to the deleted scenes and watched each one; many were very short; all were needed. Deleted and shortened songs: unforgivable. Yes, the cinematography is beautiful, casting works, etc. Someone needs to get control of the original of this film and restore its guts.
