Sing Along With "Chick Flick" Musicals

The "chick flick" musical is probably one of the sub groups that receives the worst comments from people who do not appreciate "chick flick" movies. I think they automatically assume it is some sappy story line with some corny musical numbers. But that is just not true. Don't be hating the musicals! Unless it's any of the High School Musicals which contain nothing but corny songs and awful acting. Musical offer something a little different from the average chick flick: singing and dancing. So here they are, the top five "chick flick" musicals.

Number 5: Moulin Rouge
A fun musical about a young poet (played by Ewan McGregor) who falls in love with the star courtesan, Satine, at the night club Moulin Rouge. A complication arises when The Duke also becomes interested in Satine ( Academy Award winner, Nicole Kidman).

Moulin Rouge has won two Academy Awards, has been nominated for 83 other awards and has won another 65 awards! Illustrating that this is one awesome musical. So what makes it great? It stands out from all other musicals; there is not another out there like it. The music is fun and interesting and the costumes and sets light up the film. They "created three hundred costumes and, at one point, eighty people were employed for this task."

The only reason I would put it at number 5 and not closer to number one is because there are a few parts I think needed to be reworked and I was not a huge fan of the ending. But I will not judge the entire movie on the ending. Other than that, it is a movie well worth watching.

Number 4: Hairspray
What can you say about Hairspray? It is a film that will make you want to get up and dance along. Robert Ebert says that "Hairspray is just plain fun. Or maybe not so plain. There's a lot of craft and slyness lurking beneath the circa-1960s goofiness." He means not only is the singing and dancing fun and exciting but the crafty they put into designing the sets and custumes is just amazing. It is almost worth watching the movie just to see what it was like to live in the 1960s.

Hairspray is about Tracy Turnblad who seizes an opportunity to appear on her favourite show, The Corny Collins show. The show's star, Corny Collins ,likes Tracy, but the show's manager does not. The film stars Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes, John Travolta, and many more well known actors. Hairspray is not just about ones girl's dream of dancing on her favourite show, it also deals with issues of race and appearance. Making the issue a little more deeper.

It is an excellent "chick flick" musical to watch because it is good for the entire family. It is a movie that a wide audience will enjoy.

Number 3: Grease
I wont say a lot on Grease because I already did an entire post on it at an early time. However, I couldn't leave it out of this list because it is a great "chick flick" musical.

I include it in this list because it is a movie that all ages have loved for many years and still remains popular today. It appeals to a wide audience and the songs are legendary; songs that anyone can sing along to, as I have witnessed many times.

So if my last post didn't persuade you to go watch this movie (that is if you haven't already seen it) then hopefully this one does.

Number 2: Mamma Mia
Who doesn't love a good Abba song? If you love them, or even if you have never heard of them before, believe me you will enjoy Mamma Mia. When I first watched this film I never had given Abba a chance. Then, after watching it I loved them!

The film is about Sophie, a young women getting ready for her wedding. She wishes for her entire family to be together for this day so invites her dad. The only problem, she doesn't know which of 3 men is her father. So she invites all three. Her mother, played by Meryl Streep, is not aware of this. The film also stars Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, and Stellan Skarsgard as the three potential fathers.

Momma Mia can be considered one of the best musical "chick flicks" because of it's well known songs that are great to sing along to(even if you haven't seen the movie, you may still have heard the songs before), its appeal to a wide range of women and its great actors. I love to just sit down and put on Mamma Mia. I wish I had the chance to see it live.

Number 1: Phantom of the Opera

A musical that offers something different: opera. The ability the actors have to hit the notes they do is, in itself, worth watching. Andrew Loyd Webber is a beautiful composer (you may also know him for Cats) and makes you fall in love with the music and the characters. Even though the Phantom is supposed to be a ruthless character, you can't help feeling sorry for him because his singing seems beautiful and sweet. Well at least I feel sorry for him, others may disagree.

One reason I absolutely adore this movie, besides the amazing songs, is because the actors are perfect. There is no one better than Gerard Butler as the Phantom and Emmy Rossum as Christine.

For anyone that may not know, the film is about a young women, Christine, who sings/acts in an Opera house that is said to be haunted by a phantom. The Phantom coaches Christine in singing, allowing her to become an amazing opera singer. When young Raoul comes along, falling in love with Christine, the Phantom becomes jealous. How amazing is that story line? How many other musicals do you know with a beautifully singing jealous Phantom?

Just writing this post makes me want to go listen to the sound track. So as I go off to put the CD on, watch the movie's trailer and see if it's right for you.

"Nobody puts baby in the corner..." Dirty Dancing

One of the classic "chick flick" films that has remained popular throughout time. It doesn't matter if it is the first time you're watching it, or the 20th, Dirty Dancing still makes your heart flutter. Why is the movie so popular? Because of its appeal to a wide audience, the heart capturing story line and the dancing that makes you smile. It is a film that will truely make you have the time of your life.

Starring Jennifer Grey as Baby, a young girl on vacation who meets the handsome dance instructor, Johnny (Patrick Swayze). The two have a chemistry between them that is easily seen on screen. You really believe in their characters. The story line is well known and a favourite among a wide range of audiences. I know it is a favourite among myself, my friends and my parents.

The music and, of course, the dancing are two of the main reasons people love the movie. As is seen in the winning of an Oscar and Goldon Globe for best song, as well as nominated for a Grammy; among other awards. The music allows for people to fall in love with the amazing dancing. The dance scenes are fun and makes you want to get up in your living room, grab a partner and dance the night away. Just take a look at the last dance scene and judge for yourself.
Dirty Dancing is a classic "chick flick" because it has the love story that has gone down in movie history. Girl meets boy who she should not be with, falls in love, over comes the odds. It has stayed a classic movie because of the universally liked story line and the ability it has to please a wide range of audiences, including men. The story line was reproduced again in the second Dirty Dancing movie, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights but was not as successful as the first. It basically copied the same idea but couldn't replicate the chemistry between the actors, the amazing music and fantastic dancing.

So if you're interested in seeing it for the first time, or if you just want to watch it again, here is the movie trailer.