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Is Burlesque the Biggest Studio Film Ever to Pander to Gays?

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (18)

BURLESQUE-8.jpg

You don’t pull the nearly 65-year-old Cher out of semi-retirement from acting (she hasn’t made a feature in seven years, and hasn’t played a character other than herself on the big screen in 14 years) unless you have one very specific target audience in mind. Add to that the gayest straight character actor in the business (Alan Cumming), gay icon Christina Aguilera as the lead, and sexually confused Kristen Bell, and you’ve got yourself a movie that seems to be transparently pandering to the gay audience. But will they care? It’s nice to be pandered to, and the history of movies hasn’t offered a lot of opportunities for this audience, so you have to consider it progress, right?

But, speaking as a straight man who professes to the occasional man crush, what Burlesque really needs is more Ryan Reynolds and a lot less Cam Gigandet.










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Comments

Wow. Sony moves fast.

Posted by: admin at September 30, 2010 5:05 PM

It's funny you should say that...I saw the preview for this when I went to see Easy A. I leaned over to my companion immediately after it was over and said "hear that? it's every gay man in America squeeeeaaalling"

Posted by: Ian at September 30, 2010 5:11 PM

Stanley Tucci is also playing Cher's gay bff, so yeah, this movie will be gayer than a handbag full of rainbows.

Posted by: Snrub at September 30, 2010 5:17 PM

in the words of the immortal Jay Shermann:
"It stinks."

Posted by: Jon at September 30, 2010 5:31 PM

You mean other than Cabaret, right?

Posted by: James S at September 30, 2010 5:32 PM

Not going to lie, a little annoyed on behalf of my buds in the burlesque biz that they clearly did no research with burlesque dancers. That there is cabaret dancing - a cool form in itself, but burlesque it ain't. (Burlesque is a pretty tight little subculture - like roller derby. Would be nice if they'd tried to do it a little justice).

Still, it has dancing an Alan Cumming. I'll probably see it. I am a gay man stuck in a straight lady's body.

Posted by: Tammy at September 30, 2010 5:33 PM

Are there enough gays to go see this? I mean, even if they bring their hags with them...can this be profitable?

Posted by: Sean at September 30, 2010 6:12 PM

I think Alan Cumming is in a relationship with a dude, so his business credentials might get revoked.

Posted by: wojtek at September 30, 2010 6:32 PM

One tiny quibble re Alan Cumming as 'gayest straight character actor
in the business'.
I believe he identifies as Bisexual.
One of my favorite actors that man. Very interesting to watch.

Posted by: Ms MoMo at September 30, 2010 6:38 PM

I saw the trailer for this last weekend and it looks fucking terrible. As does Christina Aguilera. Why does she think being orange looks good? I don't get it. Doesn't she have a stylist? Or a mirror?

Plus, it looks like a clone of "Showgirls." Seriously, before they showed the actual title, I thought it would be "Showgirls 3: Dirrty" or somesuch.

Posted by: Slash at September 30, 2010 7:25 PM

Yeah, Alan Cumming has had a male partner for almost five years now. They formed a civil union in 2007. That's some DEDICATION to being the "gayest straight man".

Posted by: Craig at September 30, 2010 8:00 PM

This movie looks like the lovechild of Coyote Ugly and Chicago - two movies that make me want to rip my eyeballs out and jam sharp objects in my ears.

There's no way I'm subjecting myself to this.

Posted by: CrystalW187 at September 30, 2010 10:18 PM

Between Sony and Hulu, a Canukian can't even watch a fucking trailer on here no 'mo.

Posted by: Uriah Creep at September 30, 2010 10:40 PM

I keep seeing the trailers and the movie looks awful - bad acting, over acting, terrible plot. And yet, I am strangely drawn to it. God help me, I'll probably end up seeing it (my girl crush on Kristen Bell has not yet been derailed by her terrible post-Veronica Mars role choices).

Posted by: Even Stevens at September 30, 2010 11:49 PM

bad acting, over acting, terrible plot.
---
I'm not certain I understand the concept of "camp," but to the extent that I do, this defines it.

Posted by: , at October 1, 2010 10:35 AM

I didn't know they were remaking Glitter...

Posted by: DoctorControversy at October 1, 2010 11:29 AM


It's going to be this generation's SHOWGIRLS, but with bright red tassels rather than lipsticked nipples, I guess.

Also: now every girl 13 and over is going to want to be a burlesque dancer because it's GLAMOROUS! Chilling.

Chilling.

Ugh. I hope this movie dies with a nary-seen fizzle.

Posted by: floof floof at October 1, 2010 10:47 PM

I'd also like to echo Tammy's sentiments on the actual representation of the burlesque culture. Its history is rich and fascinating, and I too have several friends that make their livings as burlesque performers, so this trailer makes me fill just slightly with rage. Just slightly. My panties are not yet bunched, but they're going to get there once the movie starts to be merchandised heavily.

Posted by: floof floof at October 1, 2010 10:51 PM