LogFAQs > #933561973

14. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Inviso: 2
KBM: 9
Karo: 10
Genny: 14
Scarlet: 23
JONA: 24
Johnbobb: 28

Inviso - This movie is FUNNY. Full stop. Regardless of its musical quality. Its the perfect kind of Murphys Law plotline, where one character makes a reckless and impulsive decision, tries to scheme his way to freedom, and the plot just keeps rolling and rolling until everything is out of control. The songs, while not exactly well-sung, are fine for their comedic purpose and bizarre dancing (particularly since, despite this not being the kind of musical where there are performances and whatnot, the songs play into the theme and plotting, while seeming to exist in a reality where, yes, the characters themselves are breaking into song and AWARE that they are breaking into song.) The number of delightful misunderstandings that end in comedy are always wonderful to behold, and in the end, everything ends happily, giving a chipper tone to a fun plot. I really liked this, and its the first movie on this list (chronologically) where I can say it was flawless in its execution.

KBM - Why I Chose It: The first musical with both music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim, and to date Sondheim's only out-and-out hit, the original 1962 production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum won six Tony Awards including Best Musical, and has since enjoyed several Broadway and West End revivals. In 1966, Funny Thing was successfully translated to the screen, under the direction of Richard Lester (who had also directed the Beatles in A Hard Day's Night and Help!) and starring the original Broadway Pseudolus, Zero Mostel. Ken Thorne received an Oscar for his adaptation of the Sondheim score. The film is also notable for featuring Buster Keaton in his final motion picture role; it was released several months after his death.

My Thoughts: Funny Thing may not be my among my favorite Sondheim shows overall, having in my opinion one of his weaker song scores, but the film adaptation manages to highlight everything that made the show work. The comic timing here is impeccable, and the jokes fly off the screen at a breakneck pace, with all the actors operating at the top of their game. The film also actually manages to add some humor that wasn't present in the stage version by way of Lester's frenetic filmmaking, and the quick, wacky editing that somehow makes everything even funnier. It's an excellent movie adaptation, one that I've not only seen several times and never gotten tired of, but also one of the few where I actually might prefer the movie to the original stage version. Interestingly, the show's most famous song, Comedy Tonight, was written as a last-minute addition to the show just before it reached Broadway, as the out-of-town tryouts for the show experienced the problem that the audience didn't realize they were watching a comedy; the song was written to inform the audience that yes, they could laugh at the jokes.

Favorite Song: Bring Me My Bride

Karo - A hilarious musical depiction of ancient rome involving various characters and the absurdities they end up in.
There are several stories going on featuring a slave looking for his freedom, several people looking for wives, and a lot of close up shots of unattractive middle aged men with their faces covered in sweat.
It is not without its flaws, the budget is low and the ending is way too silly and cartoonish compared to the nuance of the rest of the movie. But it is still a great deal of fun with a lot of good songs, and just like it says something for everyone, a comedy tonight.

Score: 69/100

Best Song: 'Everybody Ought to Have a Maid'

Genny - It turns out that many funny things happened on the way to the forum. I do not tend to like it when movies break the fourth wall in the opening segment. However this one makes up for it pretty well throughout. It's the story of one mishap and misunderstanding after another and I enjoyed the silly chariot ride.

Scarlet - Im always about a punchline away from liking AFTHotWttF. The film never quite sticks the landings to its jokes, and it definitely exists in a dated world with dated humor. Unlike the tongue-in-cheek nature of a timeless Mel Brooks piece, everything here is best if consumed before 1969.
Best Song: Comedy Tonight

JONA - At first, I was on board with the movies comedy and enjoying myself, but I just somehow felt drained as the movie went on. The movie never even had a moment where it started going downhill for me. I guess I just wasnt in the mood for it. The songs were enjoyable but mostly forgettable.
Favorite Song: Comedy Tonight

Johnbobb - Over the course of ~95 minutes, my taste for this movie went back and forth maybe a dozen times, to the point that I'm still not entirely sure if I enjoyed it or not. There are definitely aspects of it I enjoyed. The chase scene in particular was well done. The main deciding point is the comedy, which is REALLY hit or miss, with the slapstick gags landing more often than not (especially those primarily involving the supporting cast) but Mostel in particular I just never really cared for, and his style of humor often just didn't work for me. The film often takes a Mel Brooks-type approach but just isn't funny enough to follow through.
Favorite song: Comedy Tonight