Review of The Band Wagon

I found the "Band Wagon" pretty disappointing overall. There is one genuinely terrific number ("That's Entertainment"), but most of the songs and the dancing routines are really nothing extraordinary. Sure, they are executed with professionalism by all the cast members, but there are no really surprising movements and not as much energy as there should be. The script is almost non-existent, often making the narrative seem slow and predictable. And there is also an uncomfortable element of narcissism here: the hero of the film, who has more than a lot in common with Fred Astaire himself (his popularity probably wasn't at its zenith in 1953), is regarded as a person who knows exactly what entertainment is all about, and a man who should be admired by everyone.

Despite some bright moments, and the wonderful cinematography, this picture seems to be somewhat overrated...