Annie Blu-ray review

28th Nov 2012

Oh my Goodness, oh my Goodness! (Warning: that’s going to happen a lot).

Yes, can you believe that it’s been thirty years since Annie’s original release? If you’re a fan of Annie, you are going to love the blu-ray sing-along edition. What else have you been waiting for, but a version where you can sing along with all your friends and family. If you’re not a fan of Annie – well watch it anyway. It’s a cultural reference point. If you think you’re too cool for it, try and remember Jay-Z’s a fan.

Annie is an orphan living at Ms Hannigan’s horrendous home for girls. Along comes Daddy Warbucks, a billionaire who wants to adopt her. But Annie is holding out for her real parents and so Daddy Warbucks puts up $50,000 to help her find her real family. Unfortunately, Ms Hannigan plots with her douche-bag brother, Rooster, to claim Annie as their child, take the money and drop Annie in a river. For real.

To enjoy Annie you’re going to have to just buy into the whole premise. And gloss over the fact that a billionaire can walk into an orphanage and talk a ten year-old girl to his house. Annie references all those great MGM musicals; everyone down to the kids can dance, back-flip and sing. It’s an utterly feel good, a great romping adventure for viewers of all ages.

The Blu-ray version features a pretty cheesy interview with Aileen Quinn, which is quite short. There is a terrible, terrible, terrible pop cover by Play (who?) of Hard Knock Life. There isn’t much else on the blu-ray, which is a shame, but I’m guessing the sing-along part will be enough.

It’s so completely theatrical and over the top, lavish and mental that you can’t take it seriously. Tim Curry plays a child-killing rooster, oh wait – I meant an attempted child killer named Rooster. Plus Albert Finney sings AND tap dances, what more do you want?! If you’re not crying or grinning at the spectacular finale, you’re officially not human.

Yep, its going to be a hit this Christmas, bet your bottom dollar.