Movie Review: The Prom
Ryan Murphy’s The Prom feels like a disappointing and confusing TED talk instead of the fun and exciting musical it promises to be.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Megan Serfontein, Copy Editor
Ryan Murphy’s movie adaption of the Broadway musical “The Prom” is less than spectacular. The movie follows Indiana high school student Emma Nolan as she is banned from attending her prom with her girlfriend Alyssa Greene and the help she gets from four failing Broadway stars. The movie is not an accurate depiction of young queer women and their relationships, and some aspects of the movie are just downright bizarre.
Many of the choices that were made by production or by actress Jo Ellen Pellman do not make sense. First, what is it with Emma constantly smiling through situations that aren’t laughing or smiling matters? The first instance of this is in the “Just Breathe” scene; Emma is being bullied by her peers for her sexuality and she smiles about it (in the Broadway production, however, Emma is not smiling during the scene). She often brings up the traumatic event that is her parents kicking her out and just smiles about it. When she talks about being scared to go to the prom she is smiling through, and instead of addressing any of her concerns she and James Corden’s character go shopping. Even both times we see Emma cry, she smiles. Of course, it could be a defense mechanism, but it simply does not make sense that every time a negative feeling is brought up or something bad happens, she smiles. It is awkward and unrealistic.
On another note, the costuming in this movie is wonderful and shows the characterization of everyone except for Emma. However, it looks like the costume designers have only ever learned about lesbians from stereotypes. Her outfits do not look cohesive, and she switches styles in every scene. Again, it is a sharp difference from the Broadway production, where Emma has a cohesive style and looks like a teenager and less like it was put together from a Google search.
Emma and Alyssa’s relationship is deeply frustrating and overwhelmingly confusing. First, the movie shows no basis for their relationship or any reason they are together. What is confusing about them is that they are trying to be secretive and have no one find out about their relationship, but they just hang out around the school campus right after the PTA meeting and later in the gym during the school day where anyone could possibly see them. Their relationship also just seems toxic at points. When Emma ignores Alyssa’s concerns about what people are going to think, she brushes it off and says it does not matter. However, those concerns do, especially from their parents, when it is known that Alyssa’s unsupportive mother will be at the prom. Emma, of all people, should know that people’s opinions have an impact. When Alyssa tells Emma she cannot come to the gym from the other prom, Emma, instead of understanding why she can’t, blames Alyssa for everything. And the epitome of their toxicity is when they meet up a couple of days after the prom and Emma, who has a right to be upset, manipulates and gaslights Alyssa and then breaks up with her. Even though there are noticeably clear reasons Alyssa could not just come out to her mom and go to the school prom.
The whole “We are going to meet up at the prom and we are going to dance in front of everyone” plan does not make sense either. Is no one concerned for Alyssa’s safety or wellbeing? It has been established her mother is unsupportive and therefore this plan could prove to be unsafe to Alyssa, but for some reason, no one, Emma included, seems to care. Most people will not come out if they know they are in a poor situation, since safety is usually put above comfort.
Finally, many aspects of the film are just bizarre. James Corden’s character is so unlikable due to being overwhelmingly riddled with stereotypes. It’s almost painful to watch a straight man try to portray someone who is part of the LGBTQA+ community. Not to mention that his poorly done American accent is also extremely cringy. In general, his character needs to stop making everything about him and just go to therapy. The group from Broadway is also painfully overdone, especially the scene where Principal Hawkins offers to take Dee Dee Allen to Applebee’s, and Dee Dee does not know what an Applebee’s is, as if there isn’t one in the middle of Times Square. The whole subplot between Principal Hawkins and Dee Dee is peculiar and has no place in the movie other than stretching out the time. The quartet from Broadway also ignores almost everything Emma wants, and they dress her in a way she is uncomfortable with for an already high-pressure situation instead of being the kind and understanding people they are shown to be in other scenes. The “Love Thy Neighbor” scene also makes little to no sense; how are they able to change peoples’ minds that quickly through a song and dance routine that is honestly just judgment covered up with jazz hands? The preaching against anti-bigotry and intolerance just seems like a lecture or a TED talk instead of a fun, peppy movie-musical. While it is one of the points of the movie—to change the opinion of the people of the town, there are more subtle and creative ways to do it.
I must concede though and say there were a few enjoyable factors. The lighting in every scene is beautiful and really conveys the message or theme of that scene. As I mentioned the costuming is wonderful for anyone who isn’t Emma. The adult’s costumes are delightfully done as they really showcase the personality of each character. The one person I would watch this movie for again is Nicole Kidman. Her character Angie Dickson is perhaps the only person who cares about anyone other than herself. Kidman offers a refreshing and fun character in what otherwise was a puzzling and abhorrent sea of people.
Although Ryan Murphy is a talented producer and director, maybe he should stop making movies and TV shows based on singing teenagers. So please save yourself from watching this 2 hour and 12-minute fever dream and watch something that is a good representation of young queer women or a good musical movie like “Mamma Mia!”.
