The Wizard of Blah

My friends Amy (who I'm staying with in Atlanta) and Greg went to see the Wiz in Peidomont Park tonight. The hill there in the park was draped with folks. It was fun. We had some awesome chicken salad (mayo, chicken, grapes, walnuts, apple and vidalia onion--would have been better with some cilantro or basil thrown in but hey...) some chocolate cake, a pineapple mooncake that I bought from a chinese grocery on Buford Highway, and some pineapple. The food was much better than the movie.

Ok, let me preface: Amy has called me the "movie bitch" for years. She says I don't really like movies, that I just like to bitch about them. I don't think that's true. I just have high standards (or weird standards). But that said, the Wiz is truely a bad movie everyone can agree on.

First of all, if he weren't wearing a scarecrow outfit that featured his original nose Michael Jackson would be indistinguishable from Diana Ross. They speak the same, move the same, look the same. I think she had herself cloned.

Next, how many times can they ease on down the road. Sure it's a great song, but variety is the spice of life.

And then there's the long dance numbers with flashy sets and costumes. They do nothing to further the plot and serve the same purpose the fashion shows did in the old 1940's Hollywood movies--fluff and filler to show off capes lined in monkey fur. Unfortunatley Busby Burkely (sp) was dead at that point so the numbers are what they should be. (the last 20 minutes of the movie is dancing and Diana crying)

And finally (I could actually go on for hours) what's up with the Wiz curse? Richard Prior (the wiz) and Michael Jackson (the scarecrow) both caught on fire later in their careers. Is there some connection their? Did Nipsy, Diana, or Leana ever catch on fire? Enquiring minds want to know.

I saw the stage play and remember it being about the African American experience. The movie is Diana centric with no meaning what-s0-ever. If only she would catch on fire.

Next week is Ferris Bueler's Day Off. That sounds more like it.