The Prom brings the musical to the screen, with Meryl Streep and James Corden as the self-absorbed Broadway stars who seek to rebound from a disastrous theatrical closing. They lead a cultural rescue party to Indiana, where a high school lesbian has been denied her prom. They bring along their less successful buddies (Nicole Kidman and Andrew Rannells) in a comic misadventure in Flyover America.
The first part of the film, with the focus on the narcissism of the is performers, is pretty funny. As the story settles into standard fish-out-of-water territory, it’s less compelling.
The cast is just fine at singing and dancing. Nicole Kidman (who better to play a leggy chorus girl?) is exceptional. I also admired Keegan-Michael Key as the local principal and Broadway fanboy. (And I have evidently aged to the point where I now watch movies where Kerry Washington plays somebody’s mom.)
The Prom is an airy confection, the movie equivalent of cotton candy. It’s streaming on Netflix.