The Producers

For my mediated performance, I chose to watch the film The Producers, starring Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, and Will Ferrell. This movie is not the original one that was directed by Mel Brooks but is the remake that is based on the Broadway musical that was based on the original movie. If you watch this movie without knowing these facts, then you may not like because a musical is not the typical movie format. That being said, I absolutely loved this film. It was filled with great actors and had cameos of several great comedians. Nathan Lane plays the greedy and sinister(ish) Max Bialystock, a famous producer who is down on his luck. Matthew Broderick plays Leopold Bloom, a cowardly accountant who dreams of being a Broadway producer. They come up with a scheme to earn $2 million by producing a flop show that closes on opening night so that they can keep the production money for themselves.

This film has it all. It has great comedic moments that keep the audience engaged and laughing. One example of this is when Max and Leo learn that Adolf Hitler’s middle name was Elizabeth. Another is when the audience learns that Max’s financial backers are a bunch of old, widowed women whom he sleeps with for production money. The film also has catchy songs that keep playing in your head long after the show is over. One such song is when the previously mentioned women dance in the street with their walkers or when Leo sings about being a producer. However, what makes this movie truly worth seeing and truly hilarious is its absurdity. From the show “Springtime for Hitler” that they produce to the gay production team that helps put it on, the two producers encounter many absurd situations that result in making the audience laugh hysterically.