Netflix’s The Prom Review: A Pure Joy To Watch

The Prom is a pure joy to watch! Sure to have you singing, dancing, laughing, and likely crying, it isn’t perfect, but it sure is full of heart!

This year has been, well, not the best year. The majority of us have been cooped up inside with dwindling forms of entertainment. Movies are continuously being pushed and Broadway has closed its doors for months on end. Thankfully, we have a few streaming services to turn to for new entertainment, like Netflix. The Prom, directed by Ryan Murphy, is a musical film that is sure to whisk you away from reality for a little over two hours. It is a pure joy to watch and something that the whole world needs in 2020. 

The beginning of this movie finds Barry Glickman, played by James Corden, and Dee Dee Allen, played by Meryl Streep out of a job after their Broadway show Eleanor! closes due to bad critic reviews. Desperate to climb their way back into the limelight, they team up with Angie Dickinson, played by Nicole Kidman, and Trent Oliver, played by Andrew Rannells, to find a cause they can publicly support. 

That cause turns out to be Emma Nolan, a teenager who is the reason prom was cancelled in a small town in Indiana. She is a lesbian and well, the parents don’t want her to be allowed to bring a girl as a date, or even attend for that matter. Since they know they could face legal repercussions, they opt to cancel prom instead. Something her fellow teens aren’t thrilled over.

Once the down on their luck Broadway starts come to town though, they rile things up. Things don’t go according to plan, but I will keep the specifics from you as to not ruin the movie if you don’t know the story. What I will say is that there are tons of over the top musical numbers, memorable and meaningful songs, and a fantastic overall message about inclusion. 

A Stellar Cast

I could rave about every single member of this cast. From the up front actors like Meryl Streep and James Corden, to the dancers in the background whose names I don’t know. Every piece of this puzzle helped make it what it is — a must watch musical extravaganza!

Keegan-Michael Key played Tom Hawkins who is hands down one of my favorite characters in this movie. And honestly, James Corden surprised me with his singing and dancing. He gives such a heartfelt performance and he often had me tearing up.

Nicole Kidman is fantastic in everything she does, let’s be honest. Although, there is one Roxy Hart type number was a little off for me. I am not sure what it was about it, but it didn’t work. Jo Ellen Pellman, who plays Emma, and Ariana DeBose, who plays Alyssa Greene, were two of my favorite performances. They made me laugh, cry, and just want to give them both a big hug at different parts of the movie.

Overall Thoughts

The Prom is long — clocking in at 2 hours and 12 minutes — but the thing is, it doesn’t feel that long. There is enough going on to keep you more or less, constantly entertained. Since it is based off a Broadway musical, I expected it to be lengthy. Sure, there are a few scenes that could have been cut or shortened, but I am not mad at it. 

The Prom is appropriate for older kids — think tween/teens — in my opinion. Although honestly, I would let my 7 and 9 year old daughters watch it. I have a feeling they would love the flashy costumes and musical numbers. They only thing remotely inappropriate comes from the song Love Thy Neighbor. If you are worried about it, look up the lyrics. 

As a parent, parts of this movie hit me in my gut. It just goes back to what I have been saying for years — I need my girls to know that no matter who they choose to love, I am there to support them and back them up 100% of the time. I will always love and accept them for who they truly are. 

About The Prom

Dee Dee Allen (three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (Tony Award winner James Corden) are New York City stage stars with a crisis on their hands: their expensive new Broadway show is a major flop that has suddenly flatlined their careers.

Meanwhile, in small-town Indiana, high school student Emma Nolan (newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman) is experiencing a very different kind of heartbreak: despite the support of the high school principal (Keegan-Michael Key), the head of the PTA (Kerry Washington) has banned her from attending the prom with her girlfriend, Alyssa (Ariana DeBose).

When Dee Dee and Barry decide that Emma’s predicament is the perfect cause to help resurrect their public images, they hit the road with Angie (Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman) and Trent (Andrew Rannells), another pair of cynical actors looking for a professional lift. But when their self-absorbed celebrity activism unexpectedly backfires, the foursome find their own lives upended as they rally to give Emma a night where she can truly celebrate who she is.

The Prom hits Netflix on December 11th!