To be honest, I wanted to dislike the 2003 TV version of The Music Man because I love the original screen version so much. The only reason why I watched it was because of Kristen Chenoweth, for who I'm a big fan. Plus, I was extremely disappointed in the way Disney remade Annie. So, I wasn't expecting much.
The first time I watched it, though, I had to admit that it took some getting used to. I kept waiting for Robert Preston's rich voice and kept getting Matthew Broderick's more mellow voice. Once I get used to a certain actor playing a certain part, it's very difficult to let go of that person and let somebody else interpret the role. For example, I still have a difficult time listening to anybody else play Miss Hannigan in Annie other than Carol Burnett, Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas other than Dolly Parton and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors other than Ellen Greene.
But, I decided to watch this film a second time and watch it with the knowledge that Broderick was interpreting the role differently than Preston. With that, I ended up loving the film and even cried at the end when Harold Hill admits to Winthrop that, for the first time, he's got his foot stuck in the door and then goes into a reprise of "Till There Was You."
I felt Chenoweth was great as Marion the Librarian and the supporting cast was wonderful. Molly Shannon and Victor Garber (who I thought was horribly miscast as Daddy Warbucks in the Disney version of Annie) were fantastic as Mrs. and Mr. Shinn. The little kid who played Winthrop was almost dead on to a young Ron Howard.
The first time I watched it, though, I had to admit that it took some getting used to. I kept waiting for Robert Preston's rich voice and kept getting Matthew Broderick's more mellow voice. Once I get used to a certain actor playing a certain part, it's very difficult to let go of that person and let somebody else interpret the role. For example, I still have a difficult time listening to anybody else play Miss Hannigan in Annie other than Carol Burnett, Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas other than Dolly Parton and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors other than Ellen Greene.
But, I decided to watch this film a second time and watch it with the knowledge that Broderick was interpreting the role differently than Preston. With that, I ended up loving the film and even cried at the end when Harold Hill admits to Winthrop that, for the first time, he's got his foot stuck in the door and then goes into a reprise of "Till There Was You."
I felt Chenoweth was great as Marion the Librarian and the supporting cast was wonderful. Molly Shannon and Victor Garber (who I thought was horribly miscast as Daddy Warbucks in the Disney version of Annie) were fantastic as Mrs. and Mr. Shinn. The little kid who played Winthrop was almost dead on to a young Ron Howard.