The Prom (film)

The Prom is a 2020 American musical comedy film directed by Ryan Murphy and adapted to the screen by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, from their and Matthew Sklar's 2018 Broadway musical of the same name. The film stars Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Ariana DeBose, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Kerry Washington, and introducing Jo Ellen Pellman as Emma Nolan.
"The Prom" had a limited theatrical release on December 4, 2020, prior to streaming on Netflix on December 11, 2020. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the message, musical numbers and cast performances, but criticized the narrative and stereotypes.
Plot.
In Edgewater, Indiana, head of the James Madison High School PTA Mrs. Greene announces the school's prom will be canceled because female student Emma Nolan wanted to take a girl to the dance, defying their traditional beliefs and much to the dismay of Principal Tom Hawkins, who supports Emma.
Meanwhile, in New York City, narcissistic Broadway stars Dee Dee Allen and Barry Glickman are disappointed after their show "Eleanor! The Eleanor Roosevelt Story" closes on opening night due to the New York Times blasting their performances. They are comforted by Trent Oliver, a Juilliard graduate who is between acting jobs and only known for an early 2000's sitcom 'Talk to the Hand', and Angie Dickinson, a performer who has just quit her part in the chorus of "Chicago" due to being passed over for the role of Roxie Hart in favor of Tina Louise. They realize Dee Dee and Barry need a cause to seem caring and selfless. After finding Emma's story on Twitter, they drive to Indiana with the cast of "Godspell" and publicist Sheldon Saperstein.
At school, Emma is bullied and harassed by Kaylee, Shelby, Nick, and Kevin for being a lesbian and for the cancellation of the prom. The actors barge into the next PTA meeting in favor of Emma and while Mrs. Greene is furious, Hawkins reveals he is a big fan of Dee Dee. Emma and her secretly closeted girlfriend, Alyssa, Mrs. Greene's daughter, meet in private and talk about Alyssa coming out to her mother.
The actors arrive at a motel and perform at a monster truck rally event, but are booed off the stage. Hawkins tells them the Indiana Supreme Court wants the school to hold a prom for Emma and invites Dee Dee to have dinner with him at Applebee's, where the pair bond.
The next day, a number of s occur and Kaylee and Shelby find out about Alyssa's plan to come out. At the house of Emma's grandmother Bea, she reveals that Emma was kicked out by her parents at sixteen when she came out, and Barry tells her he left his house before his parents had the chance to do the same to him before convincing Emma to let him style her for the prom.
Afterward, it is revealed that the PTA arranged a separate prom for her, with the real prom being held at a private club. A furious Emma calls Alyssa, who tells her she did not know and she is not ready to come out yet. Dee Dee accidentally reveals they came to Indiana to improve their image, leaving Principal Hawkins disappointed with her.
The next day, Mrs. Greene addresses the media frenzy that followed the separate proms. While Angie comforts a heartbroken Emma, Barry tells Dee Dee to get Emma on her ex-husband Eddie Sharp's show while she tells him to call his mother Vera but they both are reluctant. Dee Dee meets up and apologizes to Hawkins and they reconcile. Emma meets up with Alyssa and breaks up with her, despite her apology.
Trent confronts Kaylee, Shelby, Nick, Kevin, and three unnamed students and persuades them to support Emma with help from the Godspell cast upon exposing their own flaws. Dee Dee arrives at the motel and tells everyone she agreed to give away her house in The Hamptons in order to get Emma on Eddie's show. She turns this offer down to tell her story her own way and sings a song she wrote during a livestream, which goes viral online as Alyssa also watches it.
Realizing they truly care for her, the actors decide to throw her an inclusive prom themselves and contribute to the budget, though they have to convince Dee Dee to use her American Express Card. Afterward, Dee Dee tells Barry she called Vera, who wants to talk to him. Vera tells Barry that although she cannot undo what she did, she always wanted a relationship with him, and they make up.
Kaylee, Shelby, Nick, and Kevin show up at the gym and apologize to Alyssa and Emma. Mrs. Greene also arrives to stop the preparations for the prom, but Alyssa finally comes out to her mother. Mrs. Greene, unable to process the revelation, leaves silently. Alyssa and Emma reconcile.
Later that night, Emma and Alyssa show up early to meet with the actors, Sheldon, Bea, and Vera. Angie receives a message asking her to play Roxie Hart because Tina Louise has shingles, Trent signs on to be the school's drama teacher and Barry is crowned prom queen. The students and many teens from the LGBT community show up for support. After the prom begins, Mrs. Greene arrives, apologizes, and embraces Alyssa, accepting her for who she is. Dee Dee and Principal Hawkins share a kiss and start a relationship. Emma and Alyssa finally share a public kiss and everyone celebrates.
Soundtrack.
The soundtrack was released digitally on December 4, 2020 by Maisie Music, with a physical release on December 18.
Production.
The film is based on the same premise as the musical of the same name, that uses music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Bob Martin and Beguelin, based on an original concept by Jack Viertel.
CNN notes the film project is on "theme with Murphy's advocacy for more inclusivity in Hollywood" including his spearheading the 2017 Half Initiative, to "create equal representation for women and minorities behind the camera". Murphy announced plans for the adaptation during a charity performance of the musical at New York's Longacre Theatre in April 2019.
On June 25, 2019, Meryl Streep, James Corden, Andrew Rannells and Nicole Kidman were revealed to be cast as the four leads, with Keegan-Michael Key as the school principal. Ariana Grande was initially cast as Alyssa Greene, a popular but closeted cheerleader and Emma's girlfriend, but scheduling conflicts with the Sweetener World Tour forced Grande to drop out. Kerry Washington was cast in October, with Ariana DeBose joining in November, replacing Grande in the role of Alyssa. Jo Ellen Pellman was also cast as Emma following a nationwide search. The project is the first film under Murphy's $300 million deal with Netflix, and fifth overall. On January 25, 2020, Awkwafina dropped out of the film due to scheduling conflicts and Kevin Chamberlin was recast as Sheldon Saperstein. On June 25, 2020, Tracey Ullman and Mary Kay Place were revealed to star in the film.
Filming commenced on December 11, 2019 in Los Angeles. On March 12, 2020, production was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this, the leads had wrapped filming, with only two days of second unit filming left, which was initially scheduled to resume in mid-April, but was ultimately delayed to summer. Production resumed on July 23, 2020.
Release.
"The Prom" had an awards-qualifying limited theatrical release on December 4, 2020, before being released digitally on December 11 by Netflix. It was the second-most watched film over its first weekend on the platform, before falling to tenth in its second week.
Critical reception.
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 55% based on 200 reviews, with an average rating of 5.80/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Through fiery songs and dance breaks, "The Prom"s bonanza of glitz, glitter, and jazz hands might be enough to whisk audiences away." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 55 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Peter Bradshaw of "The Guardian" gave the film four out of five stars, writing that it is "so goofy that you just have to enjoy it". He went on to praise the musical numbers and the film's message of self-love. Brian Pruitt of "USA Today" also gave the film four stars out of four, calling it a "joyous adaptation".
Of the opposing opinion, Mary Sollosi of "Entertainment Weekly" gave the film a "D" grade calling it "narratively sloppy, emotionally false, visually ugly, morally superior, and at least 15 minutes too long". Jesse Hassenger of "The A.V. Club" gave the film a "D+" describing it as "all-star, feel-good, zazzy nonsense".
James Corden's performance was criticized as offensive by some; Corden himself is straight while the character is gay and some said his performance perpetuated, and capitalized on, stereotypes of gay white men.
Novelization.
The UK and Commonwealth novelization rights of the film, written by Saundra Mitchell, were acquired by Penguin Random House’s editorial and media development director Holly Harris, who did a pre-emptive deal with Creative Artists Agency and William Morris Endeavor.