We’ve gotten a gander at some imagery, but aside from a brief teaser, there really hasn’t been much footage online from the Christina Aguilera/Cher/Kristen Bell pic Burlesque. All that changed today when the trailer arrived on stage, slapped on a 1920s bowler and proceeded to prove that it has the chops to survive in a post-Chicago/Pussycat Dolls world.
The plot follows young Ali (Aguilera), a girl from small town USA freshly arrived in LA with sparkly dreams of being a dancer. Fetching up in fading nightspot The Burlesque Lounge, she attempts to win over owner (and former dancer) Tess (Cher) and snarky stage manager Sean (Stanley Tucci). At first, they giggle at her attempts to prove she can strut her stuff with the likes of star turn Nikki (Kristen Bell giving it her bitchy best).
But all that changes when Ali sneaks on stage one night and, just as Tess and co are about to drop the curtain on her first performance, opens her gob and starts to sing. You can guess the rest: fame, approaches from music types (including promoter Eric Dane) and catfights with the co-stars. Plus threats on her life that only Kevin Costner can rescue her fro… hang, on, no… that bit’s The Bodyguard.
Anyhoo, it’s certainly got the dazzle, but can it make the script sing? Take a look for yourself below and decide…
**Burlesque **hits our screens on December 17.