It's actually not that bad
Got around to watching The Prom and can confirm, it’s centrist.
If you haven’t already seen the rampant outcry of C*rden’s performance on Twitter, Ryan Murphy’s newest Netflix nightmare camp-scape. The Prom, based off the 2018 broadway musical, is about a bunch of narcissistic Broadway actors who decide to help a little lesbian go to prom with her girlfriend after they cancel it. It’s gay rights, it’s generic show tunes, it’s putting sequin shops out of business. I enjoyed it.
While I’m not going to get into the problematic C*rden performance (even though Nathan Lane was RIGHT THERE, WAITING TO WORK), for the most part this movie was what I expected. That is to say I don’t really expect much from Murphy but diva warship vehicles that shoe horn the latest white gay of the year. And thank god it’s finally Andrew Rannells!!
I’m glad he’s getting the respect he deserves, after years of being defined as “that one guy from the New Normal”, or “wait, WAS he on Girls?” He finally has a definable mainstream performance that’s not just his voice.
I love the irony of casting Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman as she enters her Meryl Streep phase (that phase of not giving an absolute fuck what happens with your career, but just having fun). While Nicole couldn’t keep her accent together (her usual Mid-Western-Southern-Boston heritage as an American), she had FUN! Let the girl have fun! She’s been in HBO prestige dramas where she’s received shockin information. She’s allowed to… Give it some zazz.
The far in a way best performances of the whole dang thing were Jo Ellen Pellman and Ariana DeBose. They made such a cute couple, and I’m kind of glad the other Ariana had a conflict. Their duets SLAPED and they played the emotional core of the movie very well. Though I don’t appreciate the plot point of “going viral” as a fix all mechanic, I was happy everything worked out.
Though my problem was less with the performances, and more with the plot. Look, I’m just a city slicking queer socialist, but I think the Tr*mp era has taught us all that trying to poke holes in the bible will never get any conservatives to change their minds on gay rights. I was surprised to find out the Broadway version only came out in 2018… But then again, that’s also the year of Love, Simon so… Apropos I guess?
I’d just like to see an actually compelling queer story of this ilk show it like it is. [SPOILER] While I do like that Kerry Washington setting up an entire other prom when she loses the first bid, I think the movie could’ve pushed it further. Not everything has to have the happiest ending.
The Christian mom really just flipped all of a sudden. There’s no way in hell she would’ve shown up at the end. And while we did get Kerry Washington doing choreography, it wasn’t earned. I don’t know if I’m just cynical or what, but I think I’m also putting too many expectations on Hollywood to keep up with my Marxist ass.
I will say, the biggest surprise was Keegan-Michael Key fully and unabashedly eye fucking Meryl Streep. I know she’s gorgeous, but a straight man who loves Broadway so much he saves all his small town money to see as many shows as he can in the off season is… you know… *limp wrist*
Overall, this was fine. There was plenty to talk about outside of C*rden. Though if you were to point a gun in my mouth and tell me to name Meryl Streeps character I would shake in terror and murmer “ummm…. Elenor?!”
And I’d be shot dead.