Carmen: A Hip Hopera

A retelling of Georges Bizet's opera Carmen, Robert Townsend's glorified MTV-aired "hip hopera" stars Beyonce Knowles of Destiny's Child in the title role as the sultry siren who, after being arrested during a flirty bar brawl, convinces her captor, policeman Sgt. Hill (Mekhi Phifer, O), to stop off at her place. After a night of passion, Hill wakes up to find Carmen gone and himself being carted off to the big house, thanks to his crooked superior (Mos Def). Reunited when Hill is set free, Carmen and Hill quarrel, are caught up in wild mishaps, and eventually end up on the run to L.A., followed by Hill's archenemy (Def). In general, while much of the acting is satisfactory, Knowles' "Carmen" seems to be little more than a skimpily attired tart. Some of the modern songs are clever and nicely staged, and the prominence of artists such as Da Brat, Lil Bow Wow, and Wyclef Jean adds cachet to the production, but the script is too weak to sustain interest between musical numbers. Optional. [The DVD includes "The Making of Carmen" MTV special and a "select-a-song" feature.] (J. Williams)