The Producers

Is there anybody who doesn’t know the plot of Mel Brooks’ 1968 movie, or that the 2001 Broadway musical based on it became the hottest ticket in town and won a record 12 Tony Awards? Good. Now it comes full circle back to the screen, with several of the Broadway cast members intact (Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in the title roles, Gary Beach as flamboyant director Roger De Bris and Roger Bart as his “same-sex assistant” Carmen Ghia) and Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell along for good measure—both of them showing some nifty song-and-dance chops. Stage director Susan Stroman brings it all in, including the high spirits and naughty fun, though a few more dancers in some of the musical numbers might have filled the screen better. Do yourself a favor and stay through the credits—all the way through.