the movieGOOMBA

I do not doubt the awesomeness of The Beatles. Their music is legendary, and its evident in their prominence in commercials, movies, and on the radio. But alas, Across the Universe, a musical based around their songs, failed them.

Across the Universe is a period musical about life during the Vietnam war. Jude leaves London for the United States in search for his father and for a new life. In the States, Jude befriends Yale slacker, Max, and on Thanksgiving, Max takes Jude home to meet his family, including his beautiful teenage sister, Lucy. When Lucy's boyfriend dies in combat she moves to New York to live with her brother and eventually falls for the Brit. This film is about their love story amidst the chaotic and passion ridden time that was the 60's.

As expected, this film has great, though possibly blasphemous, re-interpretations of the some of the most popular Beatles songs. The actors have beautiful voices, Jude (Jim Sturgess) is quite a looker, and Jude and Lucy's infatuation with each other is believable. However, this film is a bit too psychedelic for my taste. Like most theatrical musicals, the characters are symbolic; Prudence is suppose to represent sexual liberation, while Sadie represents independence and the rock star lifestyle. States of mind are represented in over the top ways, like the drug induced, hallucinogenic bus tour on the road to see the doctor (cameo by Bono) or Max's fear of joining the army manifested into cookie cutter, box like clay-mated soldiers. It just got too weird for me.

I thought that the film did a good job transitioning gradually into the trippy, but this movie just wasn't a good enough story. Across the Universe has great music, pretty people to look at, and an even representation of all the major aspects in this socially and politically charged time in American history. But I didn't enjoy it.