"The Music Man" tells of a worldly traveling salesman and scam artist who unwittingly infuses the people of a small Iowa town with hope and dreams while he suffers from the low self esteem which supports his chicanery. A suspicious and cynical librarian justifiably distrust him until she sees the goodness in his work and instills in him a sense of self worth turning him into an honest man while he restores her faith in people. Viola! Love. This story is beautifully told in the huge hit movie of 1962 and, now, in the 2003 redux. This t.v. version has good legs and offers solid musical and dance performances and production value. However, it suffers from poor casting, halfhearted acting, and pales when compared to the original. If you haven't seen "The Music Man", watch the 1962 version first. If you have seen it, you'll likely be disappointed by this rehash. After all, why mess with perfection? (B)
Review of The Music Man
