Sweeney Todd: Pleasant, gruesome dark musical comedy has some ordinary songs

* * * 1/2 (Out of 5)


Tim Burton is the perfect director for a macabre piece of business like Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street . This is the story of a barber, long considered dead, who comes back to reign vengeance on those who stole his life away. Back in the 1800s, it seems people didn't go to a barber so much for a haircut as a shave, and Sweeney's trusty tools are these straight, silver razors that will cut a throat in a flick of a wrist.

This story is told with very dark humor and the songs of Stephen Sondheim. My only previous knowledge of Sondheim's work was with the overrated Funny Thing Happens on the Way to the Forum and his lyrics for West Side Story. Love WSS, but that music had you singing and tapping its themes long after you watched it. A minute after I heard a Sweeney Todd song I couldn't repeat the theme. But while the songs are throwaway, at least they don't distract from Burton's eye-popping visuals. The scenes of old London come to life and I sat there thinking, Burton should make his own version of A Christmas Carol.

The blood while plentiful, is just fake looking enough to not be overly gross, but the violence is very real indeed. When a victim gets his throat slashed, Johnny Depp's Sweeney hits a foot lever which turns the barber chair over backwards and drops the "customer" through a trap door where his body slides until his head takes a crashing blow on the cement floor below. This movie had the charm and color tones of Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. Depp's and Helena Bonham Carter's gothic, pasty faces are a great contrast to the sunny, beach days along the English Channel.

Depp is becoming an even better English actor than an American one and his singing here is strong as he mimics the style of David Bowie. He mimicked Keith Richards mannerisms for Capt. Jack Sparrow and wins again with his role here. When he screams in anger, with or without his blades, man or child he scares you. Carter may be even better. Her role is one of seemingly helpful assistant, but does she have more up her sleeve?

Die Hard's Alan Wickman radiates evil, but is onscreen much too little. His sidekick, Beadle Bamford, played by one of my favorite character actors, Timothy Spall, is pure fat malice. If they ever remake Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , Spall would make a perfect Childcatcher. With his ferret nose and rat teeth, he is sure to give kids plenty of nightmares. Unfortunately, my boy Borat himself, Sasha David Cohen disappoints as Signor Perelli, London's rival barber. He struts and hams for the screen, but he when he plays a role that's not his own creation he kind of falls flat. His most inspired moment is when he beats his young apprentice, because it is so unexpected.


The Freditor