Singin' in the Rain

It took me years, decades even, to figure out what works and doesn't work for me when it comes to musicals, my least favorite movie genre. I appreciate it more when the songs and the music propel the narrative forward. When the music stops the story dead in its tracks to indulge in pointless singing and dancing (looking at you, Oliver! and Chicago), I get irritated. I also prefer the musical numbers to make narrative sense within the context of the movie itself. Having elaborate dance numbers with strangers in the streets breaks my immersion. Having people sing in place of dialogue breaks my immersion. But having some kind of narrative context to the song and dance gets my attention. I'm not saying these things make a musical bad or a failure. Their long reign at the box office and enduring popularity would dispute any attempt I could ever make at stating my opinion as fact, something I'd never do anyway. These are just what I like and what I don't in a musical. So when you see my star rating for Singin' In The Rain, a movie often considered the greatest musical of all time, and ranks high up for lists of greatest movies overall, please understand that I am not saying it has faults. Singin' In The Rain accomplishes everything it sets out to do. It is a bright, enjoyable, whimsical tale of life sweeping two people away professionally and romantically. Many (but not all) of the musical elements integrate into the narrative. The dancing is impeccable. The leads are charming and have perfect 50's musical innocent chemistry. I chuckled quite a few times. I was entertained. I enjoyed the romance. I enjoyed the movie. My star rating is simply a reflection that the movie had elements that didn't connect with me. Songs that slowed down the narrative rather than keeping up the pace. The ten-minute dance interlude in the third act that does nothing whatsoever. The way that Lina corners the studio with the terms of her contract, and yet they somehow get away with humiliating her in public. Are these flaws? Only for my taste. I can step back and say that Singin' In The Rain absolutely does everything it sets out to do, thoroughly and enthusiastically, and I can see why it has withstood the test of time to be as beloved as it is. I score on my tastes, not historical value. But as someone who is hard to please as far as musicals go, if I were to pick one as a good place to start for someone curious about the genre, this would almost assuredly the one I'd suggest.