Chicago: Yes, I liked a musical.

Men are usually as enthusiastic to see a musical as they are to get a root canal from their dentist, I know that's how I was feeling when my date suggested we check out Chicago instead of doing something, you know, fun. As we walked into the theater it was easy to spot the bemoaned looks upon the faces of the other men in the seats, longing to be somewhere, anywhere other than where they were. As the film started, I prepared myself for the worst, but then the strangest thing happened, I actually found myself enjoying the movie.

In the town of Chicago, murder is just another form of entertainment. So when Roxie Heart murders her lover she finds herself in the middle of a media circus which she gladly accepts in order to boost her fledgling singing career. With the help of a hotshot lawyer named Billy Flynn she hopes to not only beat the murder rap, but make a name for herself as an entertainer as well.

The film was bolstered by a provocative mix of catchy songs, vibrant sets and stellar acting performances. The songs that were performed throughout not only entertained, but carried the dual purpose of relating parts of the story and moving it forward rather than bogging it down. Also the story, though set in the days of speakeasies and flappers, had a message that translated well into the modern world. Roxie’s obsession with getting her fifteen minutes of fame, even if it was via the murder of her lover, is something that is still prevalent in today’s world. Plus there is still the media infatuation with creating instant celebrity for all those types of people like Roxie, all in the name of profit. And while both Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones excelled with their performances the true star were Richard Gere as lawyer Billy Flynn and John C. Reilly as Amos Heart (Roxy's long suffering husband). Gere's singing and dancing as the slick talking attorney in particular was a totally unexpected and welcome surprise. Chicago was an entertainment extravaganza.

Grade: A