My thoughts on La La Land

Tiny tiny spoilers, but nothing major!

I finally, finally, went and saw La La Land yesterday. My expectations were ridiculously high, mostly because of Dodie Clark and her complete and utter love for it. I’m not going to say it changed my life or anything, and to be honest it probably isn’t even a favourite. I really really enjoyed it, I just didn’t fall as madly in love as I wanted to. 

The soundtrack was by far my favourite part. City of Stars could so easily become my newest favourite song, and I tried to have the album casually playing the background but ended up dancing all over my room. It’s one of those things that in a few weeks, I’ll have a “my latest obsession” post going up, because I won’t be able to stop listening to it. Or, maybe I’ll keep Moana playing over and over, it really could go either way. I hope that the songs will be Mamma Mia-esque, in that we know the movie is too cheesy, but the songs are too good to not watch it. Although maybe more songs would have been better – it was the same few repeated over and over, and that I wasn’t a fan of. 

The romance was actually perfect as well. THAT ENDING, UGH. All four of us walked out talking about how shook we were (okay, maybe only I used that word), because how could it end like that?? Except how could it not end in that way? Throughout the whole thing there was this ease between the two of them that felt so natural, and I loved that. It was the way they talked, not over each other exactly, but in a way that showed they were both listening and almost knew what the other person was about to say. Listen, I don’t know how to explain it, but it felt really real, and I loved that feeling. 

Victoria, you say, all this praise, how did you not love it?? Well, let me explain. The whole thing had this really cheesy feel that I just wasn’t a fan of. I mean, sure, it’s a musical, and they always have a bit of strangeness to them. But that scene where they fly? Dancing on a highway is one thing, but that? I don’t know, I just wasn’t a fan. It reminded me of Grease actually, where they fly away at the end, and it’s the thing that bothers me the most about that movie. I can appreciate random dance scenes, but I appreciate that first one in the flat most of all, because it makes the most sense. 

Really, it just didn’t change my life. I had a lot of emotions, and probably on the second watching on my own in my house I could cry. I just don’t think it’s particularly deserving of all the awards and praise it’s getting, because it’s not exceptional. I understand why people love it, but as much as they do? Yeah, I’m just not sure. 

What did you think? Are you madly in love, or are you a bit more like me?