The Prom (2020)
December 12, 2020 6:42 PM - Subscribe

After the PTA of a conservative high school in Indiana bans same-sex couples from attending the annual prom, a gang of flamboyant Broadway stars try to boost their image by showing up to support two lesbian students.

Based on the stage musical and directed by Ryan Murphy. Featuring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, and Kerry Washington. Streaming in the US on Netflix.
posted by DirtyOldTown (7 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
So, they're on the bus and Corden's character says, "I hope we don't screw this up." And I turned it off, because OF COURSE they will screw it up before they fix it. I was not sure I was in the mood for the screwing up. But maybe if people love it.
posted by Glinn at 5:48 AM on December 13, 2020


This is a smarmy Ryan Murphy cartoon of a movie, but the cast is having a blast and in this cursed year, smarmy Ryan Murphy laughs can still be a balm.

If your inner bullshit meter lets you watch, you will probably laugh many times. If you can't make it or nope out early, I can't imagine anyone seriously arguing with you about it.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:53 PM on December 13, 2020


I read the book version of this a while back. I remember being particularly unimpressed by the moment one of the stars is able to get the high school students to support gay people by mentioning random other things forbidden by Leviticus, and none of the students have ever heard this argument before and they are all instantly persuaded.
posted by one for the books at 2:30 PM on December 13, 2020 [5 favorites]


I read the book version of this a while back. I remember being particularly unimpressed by the moment one of the stars is able to get the high school students to support gay people by mentioning random other things forbidden by Leviticus, and none of the students have ever heard this argument before and they are all instantly persuaded.

From a review by a friend of mine: "When Trent ends homophobia using the Bible. Wooooow, why has nobody ever thought of this before? All we have to do is gently remind Christian bigots that things like tattoos and divorce are also technically sins? Honey, I grew up in the Bible Belt during the Bush administration when marriage equality was a hot button issue. That tactic does not work. Plenty of people have tried it, including me."
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:55 PM on December 13, 2020 [5 favorites]


I thought the performances were pretty good but the story dragged on. Towards the end it was like good grief give that girl a prom already.
posted by museum of fire ants at 4:59 AM on December 16, 2020


I'm really of mixed minds about this movie. My gay partner and I loved it, because it was big and fun and sweet and full of costumes and singing and dancing. Also appreciated some of the barely-insidery jabs at Broadway culture, the various parodies, etc.

Then I'd occasional think to the story and it was just so bloodless.. parts of it felt authentically queer, then parts felt like well-meaning but condescending straight people trying to be supportive. Kind of a muddle. I think what bugged me most is the absolutely sexless characters of both Barry and Trent. Talk about "safe" gays. Then again I thought the whole show was going to have nothing but a heterosexual romance (and bless you Meryl Streep, you are wonderful). At least the two girls at the center get to have a kiss at the end.

Jo Ellen Pellman was great as Emma but I kept wondering why Elisabeth Moss' 25 year old daughter had been cast as a teenager. Really I thought Alyssa had the most compelling character and story; would be interesting to see this show done with more emphasis on her. Also kind of mad we didn't get to actually see a number from Godspell, preferably performed by all the interesting looking kids who showed up at the prom at the end.

I'd love to read some nasty marxist queer hatchet job on this piece, break down all the bourgeois heteronormative stuff in the whole story. Then I could get that out of my system and go back to enjoying this for being big and fun and sweet.
posted by Nelson at 3:53 PM on December 18, 2020


James Corden proves why straight actors should think twice before playing gay helps articulate why parts of this film fell flat for me. I didn't pick Corden out specifically while watching but he sure didn't bring the kind of sparkle I was hoping for. According to this article his performance was panned by a lot of critics.
posted by Nelson at 10:56 AM on February 3, 2021


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