The Music Man

“A magnificent remake...nothing less than a miracle,” raves Entertainment Weekly in a prominent quote on the back cover of this video release. Not exactly: while the choreography is animated in certain scenes--for instance, the trademark “76 Trombones” number is nicely opened up--the lead casting in Jeff Bleckner's 2003 made-for-TV update is fatal. Robert Preston, star of the original Broadway and 1962 movie versions of Meredith Willson's play, can rest easy in his grave because Matthew Broderick ain't no Professor Harold Hill. Sadly lacking in the charisma department, the normally likable but feckless Broderick couldn't con a stripper into removing her clothes let alone fool the denizens of River City, Iowa, into buying into his character's scam of purchasing instruments for a fake marching band. Other cast members, particularly Kristin Chenoweth as Marian the librarian, fare better, but can't compensate for Broderick's fundamental implausibility in the star turn. Not a necessary purchase. (T. Rich)