Burlesque, featuring Cher and Christina Aguilera is a sight to see. It’s a new age musical full of comedy, amazing couture costumes and sexually charged choreography. The film is rated PG-13, but definitely treads heavily on the more adult side of that line with its risqué nature. Burlesque is over the top, just like the stars playing the roles in the movie. Full of excitement, vivid imagery and a memorable cast, you will fall in love with each and every character.
Christina Aguilera plays a small town girl from Iowa named Ally. Ally’s mother died at the age of seven leaving her an orphan. After her boss at a cafe in Iowa refuses to pay her for two months of work she steals her salary from the register and sets out for Hollywood.
Once Ally gets to Hollywood she goes on several auditions none of which meet with success. Seeing the “Burlesque Lounge” she curiously ventures inside only to be mesmerized by the sight of Tess (the lounge owner played by Cher). as she sings a powerful burlesque number accompanied on all sides by dancing girls. Ally sits at the bar and gets a beer, asking the attractive bartender how she gets from her seat at the bar to dancing and singing on stage. He tells her that Tess is the woman to speak to and that she could use his name as a reference.
Ally goes backstage to speak with Tess and meets with a flurry of girls changing costumes and applying makeup. Ally finds Tess is and asks her for work. Tess blows her off at first saying they will call her when they are doing open interviews. Not taking no for an answer, Ally goes out into the seating area of the lounge and spots a busy cocktail waitress. Ally starts taking orders and bringing out drinks to patrons, demanding a job at the lounge in some capacity. A few days later Tess finally notices what Ally is doing and while impressed by her determination is annoyed at the challenge to her authority. Tess allows her to work for lounge but warns her never to undermine her again.
Ally now has her foot in the door. However, she desperately wants to be on stage. She practices the girls dance moves as she serves cocktails, focused on eventually being on stage. By accident, Ally walks into an open audition being held by Tess and Sean (the bartender who pointed who towards Tess during her first visit to the lounge. After the girls leave, Ally hops on stage enraged that she was not informed of the audition. She turns on her own music and begins dancing. Tess stops the music, causing Ally to yell in protest, insisting that she knows every routine. Tess gives Ally once chance to prove herself, a chance Ally takes full advantage of, finally convincing Tess to let her to dance on stage. As she performs on stage Ally is shown to have a presence that makes her stand out from the rest of the girls.
One night Tess’s main act girl is drunk and Tess refuses to send her on stage instructing Ally that she will be performing the part instead. Ally is nervous noting that she doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but Tess insists. Ally is now performing the lead part phenomenally, but Nikki, her nemesis tries to sabotage her by turning off the music. Then the true talent of the movie comes in and Ally sings her heart out and causes a phenomena in the club. Tess is so impressed that she wants to create an entire show around Ally. A woman in the beginning who would barely look at Ally is now creating an entire show for her. Ally is on top of the world at this point.
Tess is at the point of losing her club because of two mortgages that are defaulting and is being pressured by Mark a crooked business man to sell her club, but she refuses even when her ex husband and part owner is there coercing her to do so. The only person who Tess trusts is Sean who tells it like it is to her, and makes her see it through clear eyes. Since Ally is such a success for the lounge Tess knows that money is just around the corner, but they have to do something dramatic in order not to lose the club. Mark is showing a strong interest in Ally, but Ally learns that he is trying to tear down the lounge after Tess loses it and build a skyscraper where the lounge is. Upset and not trusting Mark anymore Ally tells a drunken depressed Cher what’s happening. Ally has a brilliant idea, stolen from a brilliant crooked businessman, Mark who shared the information with her casually and she uses it to the lounges benefit.Burlesque is a fun movie to see with the girls, your mom or your boyfriend. Its not your average musical where they are singing the entire time. they sing when they are in the club which is ok, they aren’t singing as they are walking or at the grocery store like a lot of other musicals. Christina Aguilera looks angelic when she is singing and owns the movie like a diva. The dancing is phenomenal and the costumes are to envy. Leaving the theater was a happy excited feeling. Burlesque is a movie where you leave the theater not upset that you spent 10 dollars, but happy that you went. You leave wanting to dance and sing and continue the good times. Mesa Press gives Burlesque five stars for the holiday season because it takes you to a fantasy world full of sexiness and comedy.