Produced for a then-astronomical 24 million dollars, Hello, Dolly!'s disappointing box-office performance temporarily tarnished the promising career of Barbra_Streisand. However, while the star is clearly too young for the role, the main problem with the film is that the source material did not transfer well from the stage to the screen. Director Gene_Kelly's work lacks spark and inspiration and Michael_Kidd's choreography, though energetic, comes across as forced. Part of the problem is the budget, every bit of which shows up onscreen. The impressive physical production slows the pace and weighs down what is essentially a light, airy confection. Still, the movie does have a number of high points. Streisand sounds marvelous in the musical numbers, making the most of Jerry_Herman's simple, hummable songs. Her performance of "So Long Dearie," in particular, is exciting, and if the title number goes on a bit too long, it still features the incomparable Louis_Armstrong in a cameo. Co-star Walter_Matthau is an odd choice for the male lead in a musical, but he pulls it off. The rest of the cast, including Michael_Crawford and Tommy_Tune, are amiable and agreeable. While the movie may not have deserved its Oscar nomination for Best Picture, it's still a pleasant, if somewhat dull, divertissement. Craig Butler, Rovi

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