Secret Cinephile Score:  89
1 line takeaway:  A bright, funny and honest remake – better than most.

In general terms, I’m not a fan of remakes. There is an inherent laziness that disappoints me in terms of imagination and innovation. As a broad brush statement, studios only want to remake iconic and hugely popular films that could be a refreshed cash cow. I would have thought obviously, those are exactly the films that should not be remade. So my starting position is declared.

That said, if you have a sense of humour, have ever laughed or think you may have unknowingly smiled then get this DVD. The purists may not like the ‘staged’ quality but for pure laughs and entertainment its a winner.

Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick work well together although you do sense, its familiar territory for Lane. It should be and if you were fortunate enough to see him in the stage production, this will feel like revisiting a familiar friend (in the main).

Whilst Matthew Broderick is good and would be a safe name for any studio, for me he wasn’t as manic, self-absorbed and ultimately funny as either Gene Wilder or Lee Evans from the stage production.

This set a trend from me. Nathan Lane is fabulous but I miss the pure lucheness of Zero Mostel. For me there are one or two questionable casting decisions in the supporting cast. If you have nothing to compare it with, then the probability is you’d enjoy it thoroughly. Ultimately not quite as good as the original but overall not bad for a remake and one of the few I can watch and enjoy.

Media Available:  DVD to buy/stream  The original version   Broadway Cast Recording