'Annie' eerily ignores the current rich/poor divide
This reboot of the 1977 Charles Strouse-Martin Charnin musical by聽co-writer and director Will Gluck will best be remembered for providing聽Quvenzhan茅聽Wallis (鈥�Beasts of the Southern Wild鈥�) with her first big聽Hollywood starring role. She鈥檚 radiantly charming as Annie and, unlike聽so many of the Annies we鈥檝e seen over the years, she doesn鈥檛 burst her聽lungs or try to devour the scenery.聽
As the billionaire magnate running聽for mayor of New York, Jamie Foxx, in the Daddy Warbucks role, has a聽touching rapport with her. Otherwise the movie is indifferently directed聽and, for better or worse, numbers like 鈥淭omorrow鈥� don鈥檛 exactly bring聽down the house.聽
Considering this musical has its roots in Depression-era聽American, Gluck鈥檚 contemporary take on the material is eerily lacking聽in observations about the rich/poor divide in this country. Some original聽songs have rejiggered lyrics and new tunes have been added to the聽original score, none memorable. Grade:聽C+ (Rated PG for some mild language and rude humor.)
