Netflix decided in their infinite wisdom to release a documentary, and make it feature length, that is essentially a self congratulatory propaganda piece designed to make you think their live stage play, Stranger Things: The Long Shadow is destined for Broadway glory. I felt that the Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl concert didn’t do anything substantial, really failed to acknowledge the stage production, and felt like a special feature on a physical disc. This is that, it just has audio description from someone who rarely ever gets praise.
So, due to the incredibly basic nature of what this is, showing us loosely the creative process of bringing a show to stage, and having everyone involved be perpetually excited, elated, grateful, and overwhelmed with joy, there isn’t much to say about this time waster designed only for people who have watched everything else on Netflix. But, I do have to compliment Vito de Phillipo. he typically gets work from only the bottom five audio description companies, and is stuck with scripts that do nothing, and is paired on projects that make no sense for his tone. he’s an awful pick for Abbott Elementary, but for this documentary, which serves no real purpose, I thought he did well. the last time I liked him was Under Paris. these narrators that work for these companies seem unable to be hired by companies trying to make quality work, and it is worth me wasting a few minutes of my life to say Vito was appropriately cast, hired, and given a script to read that wasn’t a travesty. His voice complimented the project, which so rarely happens.
It may seem like a backhanded compliment, but I don’t dislike anyone who takes the time to bring me accessibility. No matter how many times I call someone out, I’m always open to guiding someone in the right direction, and the only way I can do that here is by addressing it in review form.
But really, don’t waste your time with this. It is about fifteen minutes of substance trying to hit a ninety minute mark.
Rotten: Final grade: C, Audio Description: B+
