That's What She Said: Erica's "Across the Universe" Review

When I first undertook this assignment, basically to write a review of the recent movie Across the Universe, I did NOT know where to begin. (John gave me this assignment of course, for two main reasons: 1. While he enjoyed the musical numbers he saw, he didn't really think Across the Universe worked as a "movie": per se. 2. Since Across the Universe really didn't come across as a "movie," he felt he could in no fair way review it.


Musical Numbers....Movie.


Let me first say that in the entertainment world (which I'm not really saying I'm qualified to evaluate but just humor me), "musical numbers" plus "movie" equals "musical." So we got the genre pinned down a little bit.


Now, what kind of musical is it? Well, it's not quite as trippy or politically charged as Pink Floyd's The Wall, although I'm sure that won't stop some people from making a night out of watching this movie when it comes out on DVD with a little help from 'their friends,' i.e., drugs.


Okay, so it's no Moulin Rouge either. The star-crossed lovers' story in Across the Universe isn't as compelling because the main couple, Jude and Lucy, seems to have a very ordinary relationship which eventually becomes affected by ideology, politics and personal choice, rather than fate or a larger force (although some might argue that ideology is a larger force).


Other classic musicals have charmed moviegoers with stories that have political undertones as well. The Von Trapp family in The Sound of Music sang brightly together amidst the dark climate of pre-WWII Nazi occupation. West Side Story reincarnated Romeo and Juliet into Maria and Tony, pirouetting their way to each other against the backdrop of racial wars and immigration issues (STILL relevant in today's world.) Hairspray protested "separate but equal" television. Even something as silly as The Producers poked fun at playing the system and profiting (a la American capitalism) from the awesomely bad production "Springtime with Hitler in Germany (Nazis AGAIN)."


To answer my initial question, I'd say that Across the Universe is a musical that tells the story of star-crossed lovers, just like any other musical. However, the story is highly dependent on the soundtrack, pulled together from the Beatles' body of work. The themes of the story stem directly from the themes of that music: love, youth, and revolution. Unlike the other musicals I mentioned, the central story is much weaker and less captivating than most. The reason for that is simple.


Most of the musicals out there focus on a story and design the music around the story. Across the Universe pulls inspiration from the music and weaves a tale by threading all the songs together into a story. The closest example to this is Movin' Out: same idea but with Billy Joel songs. No offense to Billy Joel, and I must admit that I haven't seen Movin' Out (and I wish I could compare them), but the material in Beatles music seems more artistic and thought-provoking. The story just doesn't stand alone as well as it could. Instead, it is highly driven by and dependent on the music.


That's just how it is. So, you had better like the music. :)


So what IS the story? "Is there anybody going to listen to my story all about a girl?" sings a boy, who sits on a sandy beach of coast of the UK, looking like Jeffrey from Project Runway with, yes, a WORSE haircut and sounding like Ewan McGregor's clone (not that I'm complaining). The serenity is suddenly broken up as everything becomes "Helter Skelter" and images of sheer mania on the streets of New York pelter the screen. Despite his devotion to his Girl, he promises to send 'all his loving' in letters to his sweetheart, while he sets out on a journey to America discover his estranged father. He travels across the universe, I mean, across the Atlantic Ocean.


While the youth takes this journey of self-discovery, he systematically crosses paths with a motley crew of friends that eventually become his roommates. While looking for his father, whom he imagines is an established professor working at university, Ewan McGregor runs into the blond, rebellious rich kid, Max, that looks like Paul Bettany in A Beautiful Mind (AND Wimbledon for those of you keeping track of his career). They become quick best friends and decide to move to New York together, leaving behind the safe and stable path set by Max's parents.


The two trailblazers luck out on a...trashed up yet colorful apartment with the sultry singer, Sadie and her right hand man, JoJo (a.k.a. Jimi Hendrix wannabe). And from here, it won't be long before our boy sees the face of Max's sister Lucy, who quickly integrates herself into Bohemia and into the free loving arms of our boy Ewan McGregor. Oh yeah, McGregor's name is really Jude. And his thoughts of his "Girl" are as quickly tossed aside as Romeo forgets Rosalyn when he sees Juliet. Lastly, the quirkiest and arguably least important character, Prudence, a physically and emotional bruised lesbian street urchin, crawls in through the bathroom window to join the party, leaving behind her frustrating life as a cheerleader longing to hold hands with the team captain. The friends get by and get high, while the Vietnam War wages on in the background, eventually ripping them apart.


That story isn't the greatest in the world. But to think that they came up with that from a collection of Beatles songs is actually somewhat impressive.


Speaking of the music, the covers are all very well done and I will dare to say that this soundtrack will probably be more successful than any other soundtrack this year. (I have no idea if that will actually be true, but we'll see what happens). Anyway, all the music sounds good but the musical numbers that stand out and look amazing include Bono's whimsical acting debut and performance of "I Am the Walrus," Eddie Izzard's bizarrely trance-inducing rendition of "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite." "Hey Jude" also shines as not only a great cover but a fully integrated piece of the puzzle that naturally fits into the scheme of the musical. It is truly a high point.


"I Wanna Hold Your Hand," covered by TV Carpio, tenderly emotes the sentiments of unrequited love and frustration in a lovely melody. The same song, however, when rendered by Prudence on screen, with her back-up football player dancers, looks absolutely ridiculous. The only redeeming factor in this scene is that there is actually dancing. Dancing, which simultaneously appears in pretty much every musical and which, as we all know, make a revolution worth having (see V for Vendetta), only seems to make its appearance in a choreographed form in this song. And it looks really silly.


Other great songs include Sadie and JoJo's "Oh Darling," as well as a soulful, gospel cover of "Let it Be."


On the other hand, I was slightly disappointed that "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was denigrated to the position of "Closing Credits Song 1" seeing that it was well covered by Bono, it's a great song that is alluded to in "I am the Walrus," and duh, inspired the name of Jude's true love, Lucy. I was waiting for this song to show up the entire movie. To make up for that loss, however, Lucy beautifully sings the mournful tune "Blackbird." It's pretty gorgeous.


As are all the songs. They truly sound very beautiful and pretty, which appeals well to the general public. If you're a true Beatles fan, however, you might think that the songs sound a little watered-down. I'm sorry, but that's going to happen in a movie. Look at Rent. Does that soundtrack sound just like the Broadway version? Um. Not exactly.


And while the songs appeal directly to the viewers, the cyclical story is somewhat more abstract and harder to grasp. The story has some great moments but does drag on near the end, which leaves you thinking, "Wow, what just happened?"


So we can safely say, as you walk out of the movie theater scratching your head, that Across the Universe was indeed a musical and that it had not only fun musical numbers but a love story set against the backdrop of something going on that was more serious or important. It leaves you thinking whether or not the backlash against (and the forces supporting) the Vietnam War (the first televised war) is a parallel to today's politics. What about the other issues? Race? Poverty? The Draft? Women's Rights? Has all of that stuff gone away or been resolved? Not really. What about discovering your true love? What about discovering yourself and what you believe in while you are young? Bohemia versus Traditionalism? All these issues show up in lots of musicals and as they say, life imitates art.


And that's how musicals are. They deal with controversy and mix it up with some sweet tunes. And by sweet, I mean totally rad, dude. *Peace sign* This one is just a little more abstract than most. Oh and as far as the whole 'musical equation' goes, it definitely relies on the "musical numbers" part much more so than the "movie" part. Check it out if you enjoy music or politics...or the Beatles.


Across the Universe: B (overall grade)


Musical Numbers: B+


Story: B-