Jersey Boys: Movie Review

Admittedly, I haven’t seen a whole lot of live musicals or plays. I could probably count everyone I have seen on one hand. The Tony Award-winning musical “Jersey Boys” happens to be one of the select few I have seen. A few years back, I caught the live show with my family while on vacation. I would be lying if I told you that I remembered the show vividly, but I do remember enjoying it. Director Clint Eastwood has adapted “Jersey Boys” for the big screen and it’s absolutely wonderful.

Just like in the stage-show, “Jersey Boys” tells the story of four young men from New Jersey who formed the musical group The Four Seasons. There is Tommy Devito (Vincent Piazza) and Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda), the two original members of the group. Pretty soon they bring on young Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young) as the lead singer. The three of them do a few local shows, but it isn’t until songwriter Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergens) joins the group when things begin to take off.

The film version of “Jersey Boys” is not really a musical. Characters do not burst into song (well, not until the end credits). The only singing is done when “The Four Seasons” are on stage. All the music however is fantastic. Why wouldn’t it be? “Sherry”, “Walk Like a Man”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Who Loves You” are all classics and you can’t help but move in your seat a little when you hear them. This is coming from a guy who grew up listening to hip-hop.

The music in “Jersey Boys” may be the signature selling point, but the cast picked to play The Four Seasons are all solid. Young, Lomenda, and Bergen have all been a part of the live show at some point. Young actually originated the role of Frankie Valli on Broadway. Only Piazza is new to “Jersey Boys”, although his role as Lucky Luciano on HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” was probably a good way to get into the whole New Jersey bad boy type character.

You don’t have to like musicals to dig Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys”. It’s a story of friendship and the ups and downs of life. It just happens to have a fist full of great songs. If you love great movies, then do yourself a favor and go see “Jersey Boys”, I promise that there is nothing out there in theaters this summer quite like it.

By: Marc Ferman