“I Wanna Be A Producer…”

I’ve heard so much about The Producers, that Broadway musical by comic genius Mel Brooks, which is based on his Oscar-winning (for screenplay) 1968 film of the same name. I know for a fact that the 2001 musical was a veritable juggernaut at the Tony Awards, being the most nominated musical ever, with 15, as well as the winningest, with 12. It also happens to be the biggest hit in Broadway history.

I finally got to watch the 2005 film version of the Broadway musical on DVD over the weekend.

As a film, The Producers is definitely no Chicago. Mel Brooks’ material didn’t get the same level of translation from stage to screen that Rob Marshall achieved for his Oscar-winning film. Suffice it to say that the 2005 film was too stagey, as if you were watching an actual performance on stage that was recorded on film and set to DVD. And what may work well onstage doesn’t necessarily mean it will do the same on film.

The performances were superlative, although many people might get turned off by Nathan Lane’s and Matthew Broderick’s exaggerated portrayals, which, by the way, is actually necessary for stage performers to avoid being “eaten up” by the stage and sets. But Will Ferrell is such a delightful surprise here, putting his Saturday Night Live-honed skills to good use in this movie.

Reviews of the film, however, are generally mean, with some calling it “unfunny” and totally “unnecessary”.


Honestly, I don’t give a rat’s ass. I haven’t seen the 1968 original, nor am I capable of buying a round trip ticket to New York and catch the musical on Broadway at scalper’s prices. The fact remains that the material—doesn’t matter if it’s the 1968 straight-up comedy film, the 2001 Broadway musical or the 2005 movie musical—is so funny that tears literally streamed down my cheeks from laughing so hard. That’s the first time that has ever happened to me, despite having seen some of the funniest films of all time like Airplane! and Monty Python’s Life of Brian (more on this one in future posts)

My only real regret about The Producers is that it took me this long to see something so original and funny.

But if you don’t find the sight and sound of a gaily (hint, hint) singing and dancing Adolf Hitler funny, then go skip this one.