Yes, 'La La Land' really is the cutest thing you'll see all year (TIFF Review)
'Whiplash' director Damien Chazelle brings Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone together in this bittersweet, fun and just lovely romance.
The Hollywood Story
Emma Stone plays a young actress down on her luck, never getting a part. While Sebastian, played by Ryan Gosling, wants to be a jazz musician, but merely plays piano in a restaurant where he isn't allowed to play anything he likes.
When he goes off script one night, totally immersed in his jazz number, Mia hears him from outside. And so the love story starts.
The Musical
True, 'La La Land' is a musical, an art-form that not all of us can appreciate, or even give a chance. I must admit I wasn't thrilled either, having recent musicals in the back of my mind. And although 'La La Land' makes its intensions clear from the start, with an overly joyous musical number with dancers on cars on the highway, rest assured, there's plenty of regular film between the songs. This isn't one of those musicals where the whole story is told singing and dancing, I'm glad to tell you.
Cuteness
What we do get is what seems like the cutest love story you can think of. I mean, it's Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone singing and dancing around, smothering us with cuteness. Even 'Whiplash' star J.K. Simmons has some fun during a musical number. But it turns out there's actually a bit more to this film, giving the airy story a bit more depth.
'La La Land' is not a film to write long reviews about. It's a fun ride that you just have to experience. Don't worry about the musical part, it's not as bad as you think — if you're even bothered by it. The film has great sets, great music and the cutest Hollywood couple on film in a long time. The mostly simple story isn't anything to write home about, but all the rest is. It's a crowd-pleaser from start to finish.
'La La Land' deservedly won the People's Choice Award at #TIFF16 today, and it will be released in December.
