Apparently, the blogosphere is buzzing a bit about the trailer released today for Burlesque. it stars Christina Aguilera and Cher (in her first film since Stuck on You in 2003).
Part of the buzz is because the movie looks like (as Dlisted.com put it) it could be a combo of Showgirls, Glitter, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, and Coyote Ugly. It does look promisingly craptastic. I love the part where Aguilera sings for the first time – in her characteristically overblown fashion – and it stops everybody cold… because she’s that damn good.
It’s also notable for the weirdly upscale cast that you can’t imagine needs the money this bad: Stanley Tucci, Alan Cumming, Eric Dane, Kristen Bell, Cam Gigandet, Julianne Hough, and Peter Gallagher.
But something else struck me. The movie’s about a young woman who comes out to Hollywood to make it in showbiz and ends up working at a burlesque lounge. There’s only one scenario I’ve ever heard of that fits that description and that’s the Pussycat Dolls, started as a burlesque troupe in Los Angeles back in 1995. Burlesque is co-written and directed by Steve Antin, who is the brother of Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin.
This story from last year describes it as taking place in “a Los Angeles neo-burlesque club that appears to be right out of Bob Fosse’s ‘Cabaret.’” Or maybe just a glammed-up version of the Pussycat Dolls story? They started at the Viper Room in L.A. and there’s now a Pussycat Dolls Lounge in Las Vegas. Plus, this article notes that Aguilera previously “performed with the Pussycat Dolls revue in Las Vegas,” which is where she met Steve Antin.
Now, at a time when the original group is floundering a bit, here comes a Hollywood version of their story. Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s Cabaret without the Nazis. What do you think?