The Prom Review: A Total Disappointment!

For a film that looked like a lot of fun after watching the trailer and a seemingly much needed film for 2020, I was very disappointed by Prom, directed by Ryan Murphy. As a skeptical viewer of musical to film adaptations in general, Prom was difficult to get behind as a film because it had little cinematic execution. The Broadway show was simply put on my other actors with a camera in front of it. I’m sure on Broadway it is a successful show, as it is completely over the top, cheesy, and extravagant.

However, as a film, Prom did very little to develop its themes and had difficulty choosing which themes to put at the forefront, resulting in a very surface level film with little substance from a medium that has the power to expand upon the Broadway show, from direction and performance to musical numbers. Being a story about two girls who wish to attend Prom as a couple, being met by obstacles form the school’s PTA who do not approve, Prom could have done a much better job of taking an important message and making it feel less like an after school special.

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Seeing a 2020 interpretation of the struggles of both coming out and showing the world who you want to be could have given the film so much more depth. The film quickly brings up the main character Emma (Joe Ellen Pellman) not wanting to be in the spotlight to “fight” but instead just feel like every other teenager attending Prom. However, what could have been a greater thematic concept to expand upon, the film threw this idea aside very quickly to focus on its musical numbers and sub-par plot.

A musical, such as this, perhaps was made more for enjoyment and foot tapping as opposed to an in-depth look at self discovery, but Prom did not even have the enjoyment factor that it wished to have. Meryl Streep and James Cordon were “cringey” to watch as well. As a result, it may be a two hour escape for some, but for those who are looking for a film adaptation of the Broadway show, The Prom won’ be getting a standing ovation from me.

‘The Prom’ Rating – 1.5/5