By Susan Granger
Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” based on Manuel Puig’s 1976 novel, delves into the complex relationship between two prisoners incarcerated in a cellblock in Buenos Aires, Argentina, circa 1983.
Valentin Arregui (Diego Luna) is a relentless Marxist revolutionary, vehemently opposed to the repressive military regime that followed Juan & Eva Peron’s expulsion, while Luis Molina (perceptive newcomer Tonatiuh) is a flamboyantly gay window-dresser who was arrested for public indecency with another man.
Vulnerable Luis would rather escape into fantasy than face grim reality so – to pass their time together – he relates to skeptical Valentin his obsession with a glamorous movie star named Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez).
As their relationship grows, Valentin confides in Luis that he’s got information that the warden (Bruno Bichir) wants. Eager listener Luis’ subsequent reaction spins the melodrama as themes of love and sacrifice are reflected in parallel narratives.
Adaptors Eli Roth & Joe Crombie with director Bill Condon (“Dreamgirls,” “Gods and Monsters”) have discarded much of the deliberate calculation between the two disparate inmates in favor of sentimentality – skewing the focus on sultry, slinky Jennifer Lopez who vamps it up in full ‘diva’ mode in exuberant, elaborately staged musical numbers.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I didn’t like this John Kander/Fred Ebb musical with its wholly forgettable songs and a book by Terrence McNally when it was on Broadway, and I’m always acutely aware of Ms. Lopez’s minimal acting ability (as opposed to Chita Rivera & Sonia Braga) and lack of vocal range – which is why I lack enthusiasm for this vehicle – which director Hector Babenco made into a far more memorable, non-musical 1985 movie, starring Raul Julia and Oscar-winning William Hurt.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” is a strenuous-yet-stilted, sanitized 6, playing in theaters.
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Susan Granger
Westport resident Susan Granger grew up in Hollywood, studied journalism with Pierre Salinger at Mills College and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in Journalism. In addition to writing for newspapers and magazines, she has appeared on radio and television as an anchorwoman and movie critic for many years. Read all her reviews at susangranger.com.
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