The Magical Musical Movie Review

What is it about musical movies that just make life better? They're contagious. They get your foot tappin' and your hips swayin'; they inspire you to break out in song about things as mundane as your cell phone. Yes, musical movies are truly the cherry on top of your life sundae.

Which is why we were excited to hear some brilliant minds were remaking that original high school musical, Fame. (Btw, is it possible that the same man is still doing movie trailer makeovers after all these years? [deep voice] "In  a world...")

Sadly—or as to be expected, depending on how you look at it—we hear the jazz hands in the new version of Fame have gone a little limp. No need to worry, though! Read our plot overviews of these better, peppier musicals, and then add them to your queue:

Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Silent film stars transition to the "talkies." One pulls a Millie Vanilli while the other falls in love with a chorus girl with a heart of gold.

Mary Poppins (1964)

A cough syrup-pushing nanny with special powers and a chimney sweep boyfriend turns a family around.

The Sound of Music (1965)

A music-pushing nanny with a habit habit and a small Nazi problem turns a family around.

Grease (1978)

Bad boy with hair product addiction meets good girl with Aussie accent. Summer lovin' ensues.

Moulin Rouge (2001)

A courtesan with a heart of gold befriends a midget, falls in love with a poor poet, and gets a really, really, really bad cough.

Chicago (2002)

Two hot murderesses in Jazz-era Chicago find themselves fighting for the media spotlight on a Death Row with a yen for onomatopoeia.

Dreamgirls (2006)

Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson experience a Temptations-esque rise and fall from stardom. (Or as Kanye would say, "Beyonce made one of the best movie musicals of all time.")

High School Musical (2006)

Romeo & Juliet goes Disney as teens from rival cliques explore their thespian sides, sing about basketball, enjoy chaste love.

Sweeney Todd (2007)

Johnny Depp plays a murderous barber, serenading viewers about his secret ingredient for meat pie.

Across the Universe (2007)

Beatlemania ensues when star-crossed young lovers Hey Jude and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds float through the 1960s.

Mama Mia (2008)

A Greek-American child bride is wed on an Abba-obsessed island as Meryl Streep tries to figure out who her baby daddy is.

Camp Rock (2008)

The Jonas Brothers spew their feel-good music all over a summer camp for aspiring rock stars.

Now if only we could get Hollywood to take a few notes from Bollywood...

What are your favorite movie musicals?