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    Florence Foster Jenkins

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

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    “Florence Foster Jenkins” is good fun. There are many funny moments and the film does a lot with its premise, exploring both the comedic aspects of this real-life performer and some of the drama as well. I suppose it’s a slight picture, not one that’s going to change your life or anything, but I did speak to me in a particular way. It’s a crowd pleaser, one you’ll be glad to sit through.

    Based on a true story, Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep) is a rich New York City socialite who has a passion for opera and music. When she gets it in her head that she should pursue a musical career, the pianist she’s hired to accompany her, Cosmé McMoon (Simon Helberg), is horrified when he hears her singing. Florence has no musical talents whatsoever. Her loving husband and friends nevertheless encourage her to pursue her dream, preparing themselves for the worst.

    For the most part, this film is a comedy. Florence Foster Jenkins can’t sing, but she falls into that “so bad it’s good” category. She constantly reinvents what it means to be awful by hitting false notes, emphasizing the wrong lyrics or belching out the melody in a way that it was never intended. Like a bowl of cream that's become so spoiled it's turned into a delightful topping for perogies, you wouldn't trade it for the world. You sit back, fascinated that this woman is a) capable of making these sounds and b) doesn’t realize that when people tell her she’s wonderful, they’re being as polite as saints. And, it never gets old. I think it’s a testament to how good Meryl Streep is. Being bad on purpose is hard, even when you're talented. It can also become tiresome. Every time Florence begins singing, it’s laugh-out-loud hilarious. When the film concludes and tells you that of all the archives from Carnegie Hall, the ones dealing with Florence Foster Jenkins are the most popular, you believe it. You can’t make up something this crazy.

    There’s more to this picture than just listening to Meryl Streep sing like a badly tuned trumpet that’s being stomped on repeatedly. There are funny character moments as poor Cosmé McMoon tries to figure out how he’s going to separate himself from the awful performances he’s accompanying and everyone tries to figure out how they'll prevent Florence from learning the dreadful truth. There’s also genuine heart present. Hugh Grant as St. Clair Bayfield, Jenkins’ husband, stands out particularly tall in this category. At first, you don’t know what to make of this character. As you see how he interacts with Florence, you realize that there’s genuine love between the two of them, but a lot of complications that make it a very unusual relationship. All I can say is wow, this is a well-written character. You could've made a film just about him.

    The Florence's story also spoke to me personally. I make fun of bad movies all the time. Not just when I happen upon one, like when earlier this year I realized I was the only one watching “London Has Fallen”; I go out of my way to find films I think are going to be bad. “Plan 9 from Outer Space”, “Manos: The Hands of Fate”, “Dungeons & Dragons”, etc. I love 'em all because they stink to high heaven. This film reminded me of something important. Yes, it’s hard not to laugh at someone who wants to convey genuine human emotion and accidentally creates a comedy, but it’s important to remember that these are people. Florence has so much enthusiasm and so much genuine love for music that it’s a tragedy that she can’t perform well. You laugh at her, but you also fall in love with her. You want her to succeed despite her complete lack of talent and you can understand why people are cheering her on to follow her dream. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there and to risk failing. I tear bad films apart without any remorse, but “Florence Foster Jenkins” is a strong reminder that despite shoddy cinematography, terrible performances and a script that belongs in the washroom for when the toilet paper runs out, the people who took a leap of faith, who made the 0 star films that I have ridiculed still deserve a hand of applause for finally doing it. I think there’s a little something in “Florence Foster Jenkins” that we can all relate to.

    I laughed hard at “Florence Foster Jenkins”. On top of being funny, it also has strong drama, well-developed characters, a story that will bring a smile to your face and splendid performances from everyone involved. This is a true story that deserved to be brought to the big screen and it spoke to me in a way that I didn’t expect it to. There’s no missing the talent present in this film about an untalented singer. (Theatrical version on the big screen, September 3, 2016)

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    adamwatchesmovies@  7.9.2016 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

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