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The Producers

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The Producers (2005)

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Reviews Counted:148

Fresh:75

Rotten:73

Average Rating:5.8/10

Consensus: Despite the rich source material, The Producers has a stale, stagy feel more suited to the theater than the big screen.

Rated: 12A

Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:26-12-2005

Synopsis: This remake of Mel Brooks' 1968 film features Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in the roles that they originated in the smash Broadway adaptation of the original film. Broadway producer Max... This remake of Mel Brooks' 1968 film features Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in the roles that they originated in the smash Broadway adaptation of the original film. Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Lane) is famous for his spectacular opening night flops. Leopold Bloom (Broderick) is an uptight accountant who virtually discovers gold while reviewing Max's books. When Leo realizes that you can actually make more money with a flop than with a hit, the two team up and begin a search for both the worst script and the worst director they can find to ensure failure. The script selection seems easy when the duo stumble upon SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER, an homage to the Fuhrer penned by Franz Liebkind (Will Ferrell), a German sympathetic to the Nazi cause. Convinced that the script will incite outrage, the duo needs a bad director to seal the deal. Campy director Roger DeBris (Gary Beach) and his assistant (Roger Bart) fit the bill perfectly. But when their scheme fails, Max and Leo find themselves with the worst possible outcome: a hit. To make matters worse, Franz is just a little peeved that Hitler was depicted disrespectfully--and he has a gun. Will Max and Leo survive the playwright's wrath? Will they go to jail for cooking the books? And will Leo ever submit to the advances of sexy Swedish receptionist/actress Ulla (Uma Thurman)? Directed by stage director Susan Stroman, making her feature film directorial debut, this riotous romp features lots of laughs from the major players, as well as brief appearances by Jon Lovitz, Michael McKean, and Richard Kind. Lane and Broderick make it easy to understand why the show was an unprecedented hit on Broadway, and Ferrell is a scene-stealer as Liebkind. [More]

Starring: Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, Will Ferrell

Starring: Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, Will Ferrell, Andrea Martin, Gary Beach, Roger Bart

Director: Susan Stroman

Director: Susan Stroman
Studio: Universal Pictures

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1 - 4 of 5

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Reviews for The Producers

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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This is extraneous for anyone who's seen the original film or show, presumably leaving everyone else to wonder what all the fuss has been about.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Trevor Johnston
Trevor Johnston
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

By the end you're asking yourself if they went to any trouble at all or simply took a film camera to a performance of the musical itself

Full Review Source: FilmFocus | comment Comment
12/28/05
Joe Utichi
Joe Utichi
FilmFocus

Two hours of non-stop laughs of the most politically-incorrect kind.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
12/23/05
David Edwards
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

It's a treat to see Broderick and Lane reprising their roles - both actors are extremely funny and display impressive singing and dancing skills.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
12/22/05
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Despite a certain manic energy, the comic schtick between Lane and Broderick feels as stale as last year's croissants; you can tell they've done these jokes a thousand times.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
12/13/05
Paul Arendt
Paul Arendt
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The energy and glee certainly win us over.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
12/02/05
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: NPR.org | comment Comment
10/18/08
Bob Mondello
Bob Mondello
NPR.org

The original was far funnier and somehow managed to cut to the chase with less of a song and dance.

Full Review Source: Eye for Film | comment 2 Comments
08/02/07
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Eye for Film

Be prepared to laugh from the opening credits through the closing credits.

Full Review Source: Upstage Magazine | comment Comment
05/25/07
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
Upstage Magazine

The play is everything in this uneven movie, which is alternately groan-inducing and side-splitting.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
02/22/07
Kevin Lally
Kevin Lally
Film Journal International

Confirmed my original opinion that the musical version of The Producers was a flash-in-the-pan success that won't be remembered ten years from now.

Full Review Source: NYC Film Critic | comment Comment
12/30/06
Ethan Alter
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic

Director Stroman (who also choreographed the film) has also paid tribute to the theatre by casting such stage stars as Brent Barrett, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba and Andrea Martin.

Full Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review | comment Comment
12/13/06
Michael A. Smith
Michael A. Smith
Nolan's Pop Culture Review

The real reason to see this film is the addition of the musical numbers -- catchy and clever songs, written in the style of classic 1950s Broadway musicals.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
09/27/06
Russ Breimeier
Russ Breimeier
Christianity Today

Stage director Susan Stroman brings it all in, including the high spirits and naughty fun, though a few more dancers in some of the musical numbers might have filled the screen better.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
05/12/06
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

Shows such affinity for the stage that it barely qualifies as a movie.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
05/04/06
Matt Pais
Matt Pais
Metromix.com

Is it better than the stage version? Not necessarily. But this is a faithful rendition that should succeed in bringing a delightful old-fashioned crowd-pleaser to a new audience.

Full Review Source: Denton Record Chronicle (TX) | comment Comment
02/21/06
Todd Jorgenson
Todd Jorgenson
Denton Record Chronicle (TX)

Arguably the funniest movie of the year.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
01/24/06
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

It's a broad, slightly naughty comedy in musical form from the skewed, if not a little twisted, comic genius Mel Brooks.

Full Review Source: San Antonio Express-News | comment Comment
01/19/06
Larry Ratliff
Larry Ratliff
San Antonio Express-News

Barely adequate.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
01/17/06
Paul Byrnes
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald

Not great, but still funnier than most other comedies released in 2005.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
01/15/06
Collin Souter
Collin Souter
eFilmCritic.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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