Movie Review: Annie (2014)

It was considered one of the worst musical film remakes that starred an all-star cast starring Oscar winner Jamie Foxx as Mr. Stacks (the opposite version of Mr. Oliver Warbucks), Cameron Diaz as Miss Hannigan, and, Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis as Annie.

Before there was "Annie" there was "Little Orphan Annie"....

What's the story about Little Orphan Annie?

Little Orphan Annie is a 1920s comic strip created by Harold Gray. After the success of Little Orphan Annie, it was later adapted to a Broadway musical by book writer Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin naming the musical title Annie.

The musical adapted to 1982 film Aileen Quinn as Annie and Albert Finney. Seventeen years later after the 1982 film release, it was re-adapted by The Wonderful World of Disney, the same that produced television films Cinderella (1997) and Geppeto (2000). Both films received positive reviews except the 2014 film. Now I have already watched the 1982 film and 1999 film.

Both are wonderful.

As for the 2014 film, but I wonder why everyone hates it so I wanted to see it for myself.

I Watched the film on Roku (This film is now FREE on Roku!!!!)

The movie opens in Harlem, New York City (the same setting as the original Broadway musical but different Annie Bennett (played by Quvenzhané Wallis) African American foster girl with Afro puffs in her hair instead of an original orphan redhead Annie character even though the redhead Annie did make her appearance telling everyone about her report on her favorite president. After school was over, Annie told the Girls to cover for her while she runs to the restaurant. "Overture" was playing with the sounds from a woman singing "Tomorrow", a truck singing the "Hard Knock Life", takes the bike then heads in the subway station. Annie stops by at the where we see Mr. Stacks (played by Jamiee Foxx) a germaphobic owner Stacks mobile company running for Mayor, at his mayoral campaign event, his assistant Grace (played by Rose Byrne), and his campaign adviser Guy (played by Bobby Cannavale) then leaves and heads to an Italian restaurant waiting to see if her biological parents would show up.

After no luck from her parents showing up at the restaurant, Annie sneaks in the apartment until Colleen Hannigan (played by Cameron Diaz), bad attitude, drunken single foster mother who used to be rock singer. Annie dashed into the room after Miss Hannigan tried to talk to her. Annie and the Foster Girls Mia, Isabella, Tessie and Pepper (played by Nicolette Pierini,Eden Duncan-Smith, Zoe Margaret Colletti, and Amanda Troya) singing "Maybe"was pretty pop-ish and not Broadway-ish. The scene was cute not that much tear jerking. The next day, Miss Hannigan wakes up the Girls including Annie to clean up the house before the city inspector arrives. They sing "Hard Knock Life" but it wasn't much choreography it was just the girls singing while cleaning the house nothing like the 1982 film version or 1999 film version.

"Tomorrow" was emotional, the visuals of Annie seeing kids with their moms and dads. Annie vocals were incredible just like all other Annies voice.

As much I want to explain much about the whole film, I am just going share some scenes that catch my interest and some scenes that disappoint me. First off, I don't like Mr.Stacks house in the film it looks like a large bachelor pad not like a mansion unlike Mr. Warbucks's mansion. Everything is all technology and modern.

"I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" was different than the Broadway. The music is too fast paced, half of the lyrics is kind of catchy but slightly annoying. In the movie premiere scene, it was pretty like lame. If you think that scene was worst, in the film, MoonQuake Lake, a mockery alien wannabe Twilight film, that starred A-list actors: Ashton Kutcher and his wife Mila Kunis playing as a couple and Rihanna as with one of the villainous alien facetiming them with the Stacks mobile phone. It was making a weird mockery of Twilight and instead of Annie and the Girls singing "Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile", it was just Sia singing the background during the movie premiere scene. Miss Colleen Hannigan version "Little Girls" was annoying it was nothing compared to the Broadway version, Carol Burnett version, and Kathy Bates version. Lyrics were different than the Broadway version. I would have to admit Annie's "Opportunity" performance was lovely. Her red dress such a replica to the Annie character when she wears the fascinating Christmas red dress but different and more elegant. The orchestra were melody in sync with Annie's voice. Annie's voice was unstoppable in the scene.

"Easy Street" with Guy and Miss Hannigan was disappointing. The scene was not like the 1982 or the 1999 film just too sexy and lame and not much choreography.

The plot twist in the end who the actual villain is. Instead of Colleen Hannigan being the real villian. Guy, Stack's political adviser was the actual villain in this film who tricked Stacks to believing Annie's parents are found but those people aren't Annie's parents. The ending was kind of cute with Annie finally reading the prompter, her and her adoptive father, some choreography, fascinating vocals and Colleen Hannigan ruining the ending in the most hilarious way.

Fun fact: Before Oscar-nominee Quvenzhané Wallis nabs the role of Annie, Willow Smith (Will Smith's daughter) was originally cast for the role of Annie.

The movie looked so bland and out of place. It didn't actually top like the original Broadway musical nor the 1982 or 1999 films. I love Quvenzhané Wallis's portrayal of Annie Bennett she looked so adorable in the film. Will Gluck and Aline Brosh McKenna need to rewrite the script to make the musical film better. Cameron Diaz's portrayal as Miss Hannigan doesn't seem like the character of Miss Hannigan it looks more like she is playing the role of Lilly St. Regis. They could've cast Jane Lynch or Kristen Chenoweth as Miss Hannigan for the film. Sandy, the dog does resemble the comic strip character so I'll give the movie props for that. The sweetest person in the film I like in film is Lou whose played by David Zayas. He's so sweet and he loves taking rejection and shade from Miss Hannigan. However, I feel the film should have stick to the original Broadway musical but with little changes and not change the lyrics from the songs. The new songs in the film are good. There was a lack of choreography in this musical film. For instance, in It's a Hard Knock Life, when Miss Hannigan makes the girls clean up the house instead of the 1982 or 1999 films the girls are doing tricks with dishes, rags, brooms, and other cleaning utensils. In closing, the movie should've kept with the originality Broadway musical at different times.

Director: Will Gluck

Producer(s): James Lassiter , Will Gluck , Jada Pinkett Smith , Will Smith , Caleeb Pinkett , Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter , Laurence "Jay" Brown , Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith

Screenwriter(s): Will Gluck, Aline Brosh McKenna

Cast: Quvenzhané Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne, Cameron Diaz, Bobby Cannavale, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje,David Zayas, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Amanda Troya,

Based on a Broadway musical Annie and Harold Gray's Little Orphan Annie

Rating: PG

Year: 2014