After all the hype, I was expecting something better; At least something with a great soundtrack and artistic dancing. It was a disappointment right from the beginning. Judy Dench was the only respectable perfomance--the others did not achieve their full potential. The musical numbers were poorly directed and forcibly pasted into the story. The story had the potential for some deeper message, but never got beyond scratching the surface and became tedious very quickly. I cannot recommend this film to anyone, and suspect it would only appeal to those who feel like they're suffering screenwriters who are cursed with Italian sexiness. If you want a great musical rent Chicago.