But it is the stunningly beautiful Zeta-Jones, as double homicide suspect Velma Kelly, who steals this show; showing off her impressive voice (not to mention her impressive gams) in such numbers as “I Can’t Do It Alone” and “Cell Block Tango“, Zeta-Jones delivers each note of her performance, both musically and not, with a fierce powerfulness and total dedication to the spirit and style of the piece. Also impressive is John C. Reilly’s deft portrayal of Roxie’s spurned shmuck of a husband Amos, especially his heart-breaking rendition of “Mr. Cellophane”. Less effective is a miscast Queen Latifah as prison matron Mama Morton, too modern in her delivery, and the usually delightful Christine Baranski as tabloid columnist Mary Sunshine, who’s role can best be described as ‘castrated’ in this adaptation.

But even with its faults, Chicago is a thrilling big screen spectacle that will hopefully, along with the surprise success of Moulin Rouge last year, return big screen (live action) musicals back into vogue.

Toon Talk Trivia:

• Rob Marshall (Tony-nominated stage director/choreographer for the equally successful revival of another Kander and Ebb tuner, Cabaret) choreographed the Disney television versions of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and Annie, the latter of which he also directed.
• Producer Craig Zadan was also behind Cinderella and Annie, and is producing Disney’s next big musical TV movie, The Music Man, starring Matthew Broderick, Kristin Chenoweth and Victor Garber.
• Both of Chicago’s divas have been cast in upcoming DreamWorks animated films: Catherine Zeta-Jones will voice Marina in Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, and Renee Zellweger will be the voice of Angie in Sharkslayer.
• Zellweger made her motion picture debut in Touchstone’s My Boyfriend’s Back.
• Richard Gere starred in the hit Touchstone romantic comedy Pretty Woman.
• Queen Latifah appeared in this summer’s The Country Bears.
• Broadway legend Chita Rivera, who cameos as a fellow prisoner in the film, starred as Velma in the original production of Chicago in 1975. She was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress - Musical.
• The original Broadway production of Chicago was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Director - Musical and Best Choreographer (Bob Fosse), Best Book (Fred Ebb and Fosse) and Best Score (John Kander and Ebb).
• The 1997 revival of Chicago was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won six, including Best Revival - Musical.

Coming Soon in Toon Talk:

• Toon in for the Toon Talk Top 10 - The Best of 2002.
• Pongo, Perdita and all the pups (oh, … and Cruella too) return for the direct to video 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure, available January 21^st.
• Baloo is back, along with Mowgli and Bagheera, in The Jungle Book 2, opening February 7^th. The new adventure stars the voices of John Goodman, Hayley Joel Osment, Phil Collins, Tony Jay and Jim Cummings.

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Related Links

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-- Kirby C. Holt

Kirby, a former Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member (and Trivia Champ), is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...

Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.

The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.

-- Posted December 27, 2002