Okay, I'm really surprised, because I thought this movie was going to be bad. The trailer sucked beyond belief. You might even ask me why I saw it if I thought it was going to be that bad. Well, it was either that or go chew my own left foot off watching The Hot Chick. So I decided I would keep all of my body parts by seeing this film. I'm glad I did.

Chicago, based on a play of the same title, is about the Jazz scene in the roaring 20's. Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is in, and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) wants in. By circumstance they both end up in jail charged with murders. The main plot is based around their efforts to be released and get back into the Jazz clubs. Sounds dry doesn't it? It's not.

The film is constantly dropping into fantasy song and dance. Sometimes the jail was the setting, sometimes the court, and sometimes the Jazz club. Many of the fantasies are introduced like an act, as if the whole movie is really a show in a club, and we are just waiting for our drinks to arrive.

Speaking of song and dance, who knew Richard Gere could? Gere plays Billy Flynn, a lawyer with a perfect record. For lots of money he'll get you off the hook. But Billy is also in it for the fame, just as the women are. Gere displays great talent in his musical numbers, and just so there are no illusions of doubles, the credits declare that he, Zeta-Jones, and Zellweger did their own singing and dancing.

The plot has many twists and turns, humor, and just a little tragedy. In the end all fantasies come true. Chicago is a great musical, in my opinion much better than Cabaret. It would make a lot of money if you could get teenagers to try it. They appeared to be avoiding this film. The audience I saw it with were much more senior.

This is is a pity because Chicago wasn't produced by the cookie cutter molds that most films come from. We need more variety such as this in our film diet.

Slight Suction!

Film Facts

Cast
• Catherine Zeta-Jones
• Renee Zellweger
• Richard Gere
• John C. Reilly
• Queen Latifah
• Christine Baranski
• Taye Diggs
• Dominic West
• Lucy Liu
• Deirdre Goodwin
• Denise Faye
• Mya
• Susan Misner
• Colm Feore
• Sebastian Lacause
• Marc Calamia
• Patrick Salvagna
• Joseph Scoren
• Mike Haddad
• Chita Rivera
• Mary Ann Lamb
• Tara Schwartz
• Edgar Godineaux
• Bill Corsair
• Gerry Fiorini

Directed by Rob Marshall

Released in 2002

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Reviewed by Mongo