Jersey Boys (the film) is based on Jersey Boys (the musical), which is based on the rise of The Four Seasons in the 60’s. I haven’t seen the production, but from the movie I can see why it has been so popular, it looks to have everything that would make a good Broadway show. Unfortunately that doesn’t always translate well to a good movie, and that is the case here.
Don’t get me wrong, it was ok. But that’s really the best I can say for it, just ok. Some plot elements don’t flesh out well, and others don’t make much sense at all. For instance, though Frankie Valli talks throughout the film how important family is where he comes from, his own family takes a back seat until something traumatic in the last third of the film. It just comes out of left field so fast, that it feels very disjointed and doesn’t connect well with the rest of the movie. This could work on a stage, but (for me, personally) film needs to have a little more cohesion. I’m a big musical/play fan and see at least a couple to a few a year. Just some of the things that may work on Broadway don’t move over well, and in adapting Jersey Boys to the screen, they seemed to try to keep it is as original as possible without taking this into consideration.
If you grew up when The Four Seasons were big, or if like me you listened to all these songs on the oldies station with your parents when you were young, then there is some nostalgia to it, and the movie is interesting enough. Unfortunately just not a great film. I would be interested in seeing it on stage where I’m sure it is better.
Jons Movie Takes 