Reviewed by Lara Williams
Stars Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal,
Marti Pellow | Lyrics by Tim Rice, Bjorn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson
UK certification PG | UK RRP £19.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 145 minutes | Directed by Hugh Wooldridge
If ever there was a rocky start to a film, it was 'Ladies and Gentlemen... Tim Rice!' followed by rapturous applause. Chess in Concert is the baffling collaboration between the lyricist responsible for such beauties as Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar, and ABBA's male portion - Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
Recorded at the Royal Albert Hall, Chess in Concert centres around the World Chess Championships and Russian chess champion, Anatoly. There are many things that lend themselves to being 'in concert'. Il Divo in concert. Shakira in concert. Even Star Wars in concert. Chess, however, is not such an entity you would ever deem needing to be realised 'in concert'.
Which makes it all the more preposterous that Chess in Concert is incredibly, if bizarrely, enjoyable. Perhaps it's simply the sheer, unrelenting energy and enthusiasm of a live musical - but something about Chess in Concert leaves you nigh gurgling with happiness. The animated, bordering on violent, gestures and gesticulations. The fixed smiles and heavily accented singing. The screen projecting the musical's lyrics - lyrics which include 'Each day. Of chess. Mean's there's. One less.' Lyrics like those need projecting. The strange devotion to slap bass overtures. Slap bass! Slap bass hasn't been used as a dramatic tool since the end of Seinfeld.
Just when you think it can't get any better, the 'chess cheerleaders' appear to tell us they're here to 'sell us chess', dancing wildly across the stage before scores of fireworks erupt. Consider me sold.
EXTRAS None