by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Who is ready to continue the musical train that is 2021? After wonderful musicals like In the Heights, West Side Story, Encanto, and tick… tick… BOOM!, 2021 had one last musical left in it, coming from Joe Wright. Based on the classic play, Cyrano de Bergerac, this new film brings musical numbers to this classic tale of unrequited love. Cyrano is a wordsmith who loves the beautiful Roxanne, but he is insecure about this appearance. When he finds out that Roxanne loves the young Christian, he helps seal the deal before an evil and powerful man can take her hand first.
What does Wright bring to the table in this new adaptation? There is a lively atmosphere, especially when the musical numbers start up. There is visually pleasing choreography and production design that helps elevate the musical numbers. The costumes are top notch (earning that Oscar nomination) and the makeup is big and bold. Combined with the textured cinematography of Seamus McGarvey, Wright creates a beautiful and bold film. What doesn’t work as well is the awkward tone of the film. There are some charming moments that focus on the romance and lean into the cheesy melodrama. But then there are some darker moments with war and murder that feel out of place (even though Wright stages them well).
But what about the story itself? Does this classic tale work today? This is at times a refreshingly old-fashioned film, but it also feels a little bit silly. There are also narrative beats that only work if you ignore some illogical cues. How does Roxanne not instantly recognize Cyrano’s voice when “Christian” is singing? Weren’t they established as lifelong friends? Some of their interactions are overly flirty (to build tension), but then the next scene there is nothing there for the sake of the plot. The story gets a bit muddled as Roxanne balances three different suitors, but the narrative does keep the audience on their toes. The film takes a strange turn in the third act when it becomes so focused on war and loses some of its focus.
How does Peter Dinklage (and the rest of the cast) do in this musically inclined romance? Dinklage is not a great singer, but his commitment to the role allows him to hit the right marks during his musical numbers. He is charming and snarky in an entertaining way (even if Cyrano comes off a tad unlikeable at times). Dinklage also handles the physical needs of the film where he does some convincing sword fights. Haley Bennett is a beautiful singer and brings plenty of life to the film when she appears. She brings an endless charm to Roxanne, making her magnetic for the men in her life. Kelvin Harrison Jr. is also a talented vocalist who brings charisma to the thankless role of Christian. Special shoutout to Ben Mendelsohn, who is deliciously evil and nails the foreboding nature of his single villain song.
Will Cyrano capture the attention of audiences when it FINALLY crawls out into theaters? It is a real shame that this film was delayed so much because it could have made a bigger splash in the awards talks. This is not a perfect film, and there were better musicals in 2021, but it is still a beautiful and engaging musical worth your time. These songs will latch into your brain, and the cast and director will do the rest.
Grade: B-
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