Where Rent and Chicago were liberated from the confines of the stage with spectacular results, director Susan Stroman takes the Nathan Lane-Matthew Broderick smash and films it as if it were playing to the balcony.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 8, 2023

Works considerably more often than not.

| Original Score: 3.0/4.0 | Sep 20, 2020

The Producers has some great comic writing by Brooks to help offset the movie's many problems.

| Original Score: B | Nov 19, 2019

The Producers is a wonderful elegy for a certain kind of comic sensibility.

| Feb 1, 2018

Be prepared to laugh from the opening credits through the closing credits.

| Original Score: 4/4 | May 25, 2007

| Original Score: D | May 7, 2007

The play is everything in this uneven movie, which is alternately groan-inducing and side-splitting.

| Feb 22, 2007

Confirmed my original opinion that the musical version of The Producers was a flash-in-the-pan success that won't be remembered ten years from now.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 30, 2006

Director Stroman (who also choreographed the film) has also paid tribute to the theatre by casting such stage stars as Brent Barrett, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba and Andrea Martin.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 13, 2006

The real reason to see this film is the addition of the musical numbers -- catchy and clever songs, written in the style of classic 1950s Broadway musicals.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 27, 2006

Stage director Susan Stroman brings it all in, including the high spirits and naughty fun, though a few more dancers in some of the musical numbers might have filled the screen better.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 12, 2006

Shows such affinity for the stage that it barely qualifies as a movie.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 4, 2006

Is it better than the stage version? Not necessarily. But this is a faithful rendition that should succeed in bringing a delightful old-fashioned crowd-pleaser to a new audience.

Full Review | Feb 21, 2006

This is extraneous for anyone who's seen the original film or show, presumably leaving everyone else to wonder what all the fuss has been about.

| Feb 9, 2006

Arguably the funniest movie of the year.

| Original Score: A- | Jan 24, 2006

It's a broad, slightly naughty comedy in musical form from the skewed, if not a little twisted, comic genius Mel Brooks.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jan 19, 2006

Barely adequate.

| Jan 17, 2006

Not great, but still funnier than most other comedies released in 2005.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 15, 2006

Bad taste can sometimes be fun (check out the Warhol films), but when it's not it turns out to be just plain irritating like this version of The Producers.

| Original Score: D | Jan 14, 2006

My suggestion: rent the original

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 13, 2006