Produced by Jay Z and Will Smith, this musical-comedy adventure has more than 99 problems - and a decent script is one.
An update from the 1977 Broadway musical and John Huston's 1982 movie, the new hip-hop reboot takes viewers from the Great Depression to present-day New York. Annie (Wallis) is no longer an orphan, but a savvy and streetwise 10-year-old foster kid, under the care of boozy welfare cheat Miss Hannigan (Diaz).
After a chance encounter with mobile phone tycoon and wannabe Mayor, Will Stacks (Foxx), AKA the new Daddy Warbucks, Annie finds herself leaving her cramped Harlem apartment to live in Stacks' 'Starship Enterprise' smart house. As Stacks begins to appear more relatable to the common voter, his ratings begin to soar. But is his drastic measure to become mayor really worth crushing the hopes of a vulnerable little girl?
Cue the cheesy subplots involving Stacks' lonely, type A assistant Grace (Byrne), and his sleazy election manager Guy (Cannavale) who attempts to bribe Miss Hannigan.
There is a Billie Barry-meets-pantomime vibe to the flick, which makes toe-tapping classics like It's a Hard Knock Life, Tomorrow and You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile, feel over-produced. Equally, the choreography feels rushed and busy.
Director Gluck's attempt to modernise the storyline will surely relate to tech-savvy tweens who are nifty with iPhones, social media (look out for the Katy Perry Twitter gag) and viral videos.
A movie theatre scene involving a cameo from Mila Kunis and Rhianna followed by open auditions to cast Annie's long lost parents, will warrant a few laughs for older viewers (sweet relief).
Oscar-nominated Wallis, who shone bright in 2012's Beasts of the Southern Wild, fails to hold her own as the title character and lacks sparkle, while Foxx appears disconnected. Diaz seems to be in another movie altogether and even the usually on point Rose Byrne seems bored throughout.
Cannavale's character and the cute dog that plays Sandy just about save the day.
It may be the longest one-hundred-and-eighteen minutes of your adult life, but you can bet your bottom dollar that your little darlings will be singing their hearts out leaving the screening.
Laura Delaney
