The Music Man

TV-G

2003

2 hr. 30 min.

Musical

Romance

List

40%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

59%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Professor Harold Hill (Matthew Broderick) is a con artist who runs a very particular scam. With the help of his partner in crime, Marcellus Washburn (David Aaron Baker), Hill travels to small towns, convinces the townsfolk they need a marching band, collects money for instruments and uniforms, then splits with the cash. When Hill tries his luck in the small Iowa town of River City, however, he finds himself up against his staunchest opponent yet: nosy librarian Marian Paroo (Kristin Chenoweth).

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Tabitha B

Although this movie is terrible with the cardboard acting from Matthew Broderick and the incredibly miscasting of Molly Shannon.... well in anything. I did revisit the singing and it's not as bad as I remember.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

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StephenPaul C

The worst 2.5 hours ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

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steve d

The rest of the cast is fun but I didn't buy Broderick in the role.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

I didn't think this remake could stand up to the original, but Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth gave rousing performances. Yes, Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, and Buddy Hackett were great, but so are Broderick and Chenoweth.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Trying to remake what is doubtless one of the greatest musicals ever brought to film takes guts. Successful remakes are possible - "A Star Is Born", for example - but Matthew Broderick is so pale and stale compared to Robert Preston this one never had a chance.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

Lame remake. The cosmopolitan casting completely undermines the portrayal of an insular Iowa town.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Jeff Bleckner

Director

Matthew Broderick

Professor Harold Hill

Kristin Chenoweth

Marian Paroo

Victor Garber

Mayor Shinn

Debra Monk

Mrs. Paroo

Molly Shannon

Mrs. Eulalie MacKechnie Shinn

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3%

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John Leonard

New York Magazine/Vulture

It's all very retro-Disney, not harmful but oddly flat.

Jan 30, 2018

Full Review

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Fun and tuneful, but not up to Robert Preston original. Still, Broderick is very good.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 17, 2008

Full Review

Betsy Bozdech

DVDJournal.com

A perfectly entertaining movie musical in most respects, it still can't hold a candle to the 1962 big-screen classic.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 29, 2006

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...never quite becomes as accessible as one would imagine it's meant to be.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 30, 2006

Full Review

Bill Gibron

DVDTalk.com

Prof. Harold Hill may believe the "think" system will teach his..."band" to play. But no amount of brainpower could make...this Music Man ...anything but derivative.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 30, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Professor Harold Hill (Matthew Broderick) is a con artist who runs a very particular scam. With the help of his partner in crime, Marcellus Washburn (David Aaron Baker), Hill travels to small towns, convinces the townsfolk they need a marching band, collects money for instruments and uniforms, then splits with the cash. When Hill tries his luck in the small Iowa town of River City, however, he finds himself up against his staunchest opponent yet: nosy librarian Marian Paroo (Kristin Chenoweth).

Director: Jeff Bleckner
Executive Producer: Craig Zadan, Neil Meron
Rating: TV-G
Genre: Musical, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2008

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