Sunny

While there is no hard and fast rule, I think that a good musical needs to keep a good balance between singing, dancing and plot. And, in most cases, if there isn't enough plot and a lot of singing and dancing, then the film doesn't work for me. Such is the case for "Sunny", a film with one or two song and dance numbers too many...to the point where it just felt like a bit needed to be trimmed and more plot inserted in its place.

The story begins in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Larry (John Carroll) and his friends go to a circus, of sorts. I say 'of sorts' because it seems more like Cirque du Soleil combined with a nightclub. There you see Ray Bolger do some incredibly athletic dance routines that you just need to see! Soon Sunny O'Sullivan (an odd name, that's for sure....played by Anna Neagle)...as she performs, Larry becomes smitten. Eventually they fall in love and Larry asks her to marry him....and she agrees and leaves this circus. But soon it's obvious that his snobby rich family is aghast about her...and they make Sunny feel about as welcome as a case of the Clap...at least at first. What's to become of this romance? Tune in and see...or not.

While this film has a few good moments as well as the always welcome Edward Everett Horton, it's simply more like a variety show much of the time than a coherent story. Some might be able to look past this....I just found myself becoming bored due to all the singing and dancing...especially when it came to Neagle.

By the way, at the 40 minute mark there's a scene with the aunt where she keeps pointing a loaded gun directly at Larry's chest! What is with this insane scene?!?! Who thought any of that made any sense???