I love this movie so much

Fantastic!

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

How bad is this movie? It was so bad that when a train pulls into the station with Pennsylvania on its side I suddenly got an urge to move out of that noble Commonwealth. So bad that when a character laid down on the train tracks, I wished that the entire cast would join her.The romantic lead is pudgy little Jason Alexander, with a rug on his head that looks like he found it in a discarded crackerjack box. His true love is obviously compatible -- she's also adorned with a wig, which looks to have been mail ordered from the back of an Archie comic book.I was shocked to learn that director Gene Saks was only in his 70s when he muddled through this opus. Based on his Borscht Belt sensibilities and comic timing I would have guessed he'd gotten his start on the vaudeville circuit.The choreography stands out as perhaps the cheesiest and most clichéd choreography ever to be captured on film. Probably because the dance moves were scraped off the mold from old movies, I was reminded of Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers during the climactic duet -- which made me wish I was watching Singing in the Rain again, instead of a toupeed bundle of flab in a tailored suit struggling to look debonair while hoofing it with a partner who's a head taller than he is and clearly out of his league. In fairness, the number brings some desperately needed (if unintentional) comedic relief to an otherwise bland waste of time.It's admirable that they stuck to the original play, although anyone who previously watched the 1963 movie will miss certain elements of the earlier Hollywood make-over, such as drama and comedy and fun.The movie does pack a few surprises here and there. One involves Tyne Daly in a wet fur coat. The other is the number of people who seem to actually like this disaster and find it entertaining. We really need to get a handle on the pharmaceutical industry... before we're a nation of zombies.

I saw the original years ago and it was great! I thought I would check this one out and boy am I sorry! All the singing seem to be voice overs! The only person that was cast right was Tyne Daily.The rest were over acting! Why ruin a great movie like this! Ann Margret must have cringed when she saw it! Don't waste your time, watch the first one! The outfits were pretty good but that's it.I did like the old cars though! Sure hope they don't try to redo this again!I like Chynna Phillips but she sure didn't do her voice justice in this movie!Paul Lynde has rolled over in his grave!!They should have taken more time casting and maybe it would have been better.And why not let the people sing instead of lip sync!

"Bye Bye Birdie" isn't one of the best musicals of all time, but it's great fun, and accessible to many audiences. The original film could have been wonderful, with Dick Van Dyke reprising his signature Broadway role, but instead they tinkered with the plot, so the film is very unsatisfying. This re-make, which aired on ABC in 1995, is far more faithful to the original script, and includes some original songs as well that were used in a national tour which this film took off from which starred Tommy Tune and Ann Reinking (who choreographed this film.)Jason Alexander is a very different type from Dick Van Dyke, but he is well cast as Albert, (before his "Seinfeld" days, he started in Musical theater.) Vanessa Williams is a perfect fit for Rose. Their is also great work from Tyne Daly as Mae and Mark Kudisch as Conrad Birdie ( a role he played on the national tour).This film is not without it's problems though. A major liability is Chynna Phillips, who, however appealing, simply looks and seems too old to be teenage Kim. And George Wendt is somewhat bland as her father, somewhat throwing the number "kids" away (a number original cast member Paul Lynde stole the show with.)But all in all, this is a delightful, well-done film which the material deserved.

I have to say, first off, that it is terrific that the TV Studios are participating in the current revival of screen musicals. In fact, they invented it. Fortunately / unfortunately, this film seems to waver between great musical theatre, and just plain wrong. Being very close to the original Broadway production, this film gets a bit wordy and long as a movie. It is surprising that all of the dialogue was left in. Seems like if you're going to add three or four songs, you need to trim elsewhere. The TV film of "Annie" was very successfully trimmed while still maintaining the spirit of the show.The cast ranges from divine to pointless; but I suppose we had Hollywood concessions to deal with if we wanted this film made. First the divine. Vanessa Williams as Rosie. Miss Williams Rosie is fiery, classy, and beautiful. Really, a terrific performance. Dancing, singing, and presence is equal to the best of them. Another fine performance is given by Brigitta Dau in the small role of Ursula. She is wonderful in song and scene, and really pulls of the addition of the title song in grand style. It is always fun to see stars in musical roles, and Tyne Daly is plenty fun as Mrs. Peterson, if a bit underwhelming sometimes. Broadway baby Sally Mayes is great as Mrs. MacAfee, almost begging for more material. Marc Kudisch (another Broadway performer) is a terrific Conrad - singing and dancing it with bigger spirit than ever, and a nod to the King.On the down side, Jason Alexander was a bit strange as Albert (and the rug bothered me). I think I had trouble getting "George" out of my head. He sang and danced well, but just not an Albert. Chynna Phillips, alas, is just plain awful as Kim. She can't belt, she doesn't have any high notes, she seems to be half-asleep, and she sticks out as way-too-old far more than Ann Margaret ever did. And on the bottom, George Wendt simply wastes a ton of great material as Kim's Father. Paul Lynde originally forced the supporting role of Mr. MacAfee into a star role with his brilliant comic acting. George Wendt simply lacks the skills required for a musical. On the music end, I absolutely loved the addition of Miss Dau and friends in the title number. Best thing in the show. I liked the addition of "Let's Settle Down" for Miss Williams, but it did sound like a pop-song from an smooth jazz radio station. Still, she performs it beautifully. The endless padding for star Jason Alexander is just plain awful. "Giant Step" stinks and he doesn't pull it off (besides it drags down the end of the film), and his "What Did I Ever See in Her" is just plain dumb. I'll agree with the shortening of "Spanish Rose" for TV, but I would have rather seen one of Mr. Alexander's songs cut. "A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore" was put over well enough by Tyne Daly that it is now included in the live stage show.The new orchestrations are inspired - a really nice new sound for the show with lots of fun and the spirit of the original. The direction is good and suitably "made bigger" for modern audiences; but one would have thought that Bob Fosse's bearer of the torch, Anne Reinking would know enough about showstoppers to send the musical numbers skyward. This is not the case, and in fact, the dancing is minimalist and non-existent in most places. The choreography succeeds beautifully in the title number and in Miss Williams songs, but there is little else to recommend. "Happy Face," "Telephone Hour," and "Lotta Livin" are left flat.All in all, I still enjoy watching it, and some performances aside, it is a really good translation of a musical from stage to screen. Besides, you can FF through the ponderous book scenes.