Review: Ebullient 'La La Land' is something to sing about
On Broadway, of course, we've got the "Hamilton" phenomenon, making the stage musical feel more vital and relevant than it has in years.
[...] we have popular live TV revivals like "Grease" and "Hairspray."
[...] in time for Christmas, there's the eye-popping, heart-lifting "La La Land," which both honors and modernizes the screen musical to such joyful effect that you might find yourself pirouetting home from the multiplex.
Sebastian (Gosling) is a struggling jazz pianist, with stubborn dreams of opening his own club.
Mia (Stone) is an aspiring actress, working as a barista while auditioning for TV parts.
[...] they meet a third time, at a party.
Stone and Gosling are charming musical performers, but way less polished and ethereal than their cinematic forbears.
[...] at a place built to watch the stars, the two dancing lovers actually lift up into them.
Some people resist musicals because in real life, people never break out into song; they just speak their feelings.
La La Land," a Lionsgate release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for "some language.