IMDb plot summary: A young orphan opens the heart of billionaire Sir Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks.
Directed by Lear Debessonet and Alex Rudzinski. Starring Celina Smith, Harry Connick Jr., and Nicole Scherzinger.
Annie Live was the live television production of the classic musical Annie, about a spunky orphan girl during the Great Depression and her adoption into a new wealthy family. This particular version starred newcomer Celina Smith as Annie and a supporting cast that included Harry Connick Jr., Taraji P. Henson, Titus Burgess, and Nicole Scherzinger. The last version of this show I saw was the 2014 film adaptation that took some serious liberties with both the music and the story, and rewatching this one reminded me how much I really hate this show. There's just nothing about the pacing of this show that works, there's no opportunity for character development, and while the songs are catchy, I don't really like any of them. This version in particular, though, really lacks in the performances, particularly from Smith and Connick Jr., who are both incredibly stiff and bland, bringing nothing whatsoever to the role. On the flip side, we have Henson, who is chewing the scenery like she's in an entirely different show, and while it's at least lively, it mostly doesn't work either. A messy performance of a show that needs good performances to work at all.
How it entered my Flickchart:
Annie Live < Beauty and the Beast (1946)
Annie Live < The Night of the Hunter
Annie Live > Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
Annie Live > Bad Teacher
Annie Live < The Hunt (2012)
Annie Live > Quitting
Annie Live > A Most Wanted Man
Annie Live > Get Smart
Annie Live < It's Always Fair Weather
Annie Live > A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)
Annie Live < Kelly's Heroes
Final spot: #2883 out of 3677, or 22%.
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