BURLESQUE
Year: 2010
USA: Sony Pictures Releasing / Screen Gems
UK: Sony Pictures Releasing
Cast: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Eric Dane, Cam Gigandet, Julianne Hough, Alan Cumming, Peter Gallagher, Kristen Bell, Stanley Tucci, Dianna Agron, David Walton, Glynn Turman, Chelsea Traille, Terrence Jenkins
Director: Steven Antin
Country: USA
USA: 116 mins
UK: 119 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for sexual content including several suggestive dance routines, partial nudity, language and some thematic material
UK Certificate: 12A contains one use of strong language and moderate innuendo
USA Release Date: 24 November 2010
UK Release Date: 17 December 2010
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Synopsis
"It takes a legend...to make a star."
In writer/director Steven Antin's finger-snapping, eye-popping and atmospheric musical BURLESQUE, a time-honored tale of showbiz aspirations fulfilled - and the hallmarks of a classic form of live entertainment - get a dazzling, fun movie makeover.
For Ali (Christina Aguilera), a small-town girl with a big voice, there had to be somewhere her dreams could be fulfilled, rather than remain an empty goal.
Enter the world of burlesque.
Leaving behind hardship and an uncertain future for the entertainment capital Los Angeles, Ali stumbles upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue. Talking herself into a cocktail waitress job from Tess (Cher), the club's glamorous and forthright proprietor, headliner and starmaker, Ali becomes a wide-eyed sponge to The Burlesque's captivating acts. The outrageous costumes and bold choreography hold the young ingenue enraptured.
That stage is where Ali was meant to be, so she vows to herself she'll be on it someday.
But first she has to navigate the theater's many interpersonal relationships, for better or for worse. She builds a friendship with a featured dancer (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer (Kristen Bell), and wins the affection of Jack (Cam Gigandet), a handsome bartender and musician who takes Ali in as a temporary roommate to help her get her financial footing. Eventually, with the help of a sharp-witted yet sensitive stage manager (Stanley Tucci) and the club's gender-bending host (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage. Her spectacular voice and showmanship returns The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, giving hope to Tess that she won't have to entertain the demands of her ex-husband (Peter Gallagher) that she sell the place to a charismatic entrepreneur (Eric Dane) with an enticing proposal.
As Ali's star rises, it becomes thrillingly clear that the Burlesque Lounge lives to titillate, fascinate and make dreams come true. But are its days - and colorful, sexy, music-filled nights -- numbered?
