The Milwaukee Post

By TOM JOZWIK Special to The Post MILWAUKEE – "This doesn't look like the Oz I remember," a computer-animated Dorothy declares early in "Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return." This new take on the Emerald City and its denizens, offered in 3-D, doesn't much resemble the Oz most of us remember, either, the one from the classic movie star- ring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Burt Lahr and innumerable Munchkins, the one that just might be an even more impressive depiction than author L. Frank Baum cre- ated. In "Legends," the Emerald City has seen better days; it looks not unlike an artist's rendering of present-day Detroit or Newark. Some things haven't changed, though. The Cowardly Lion and Tin Man are still around (the Munchkins and Wizard, unfortunately, are not). They've been summoned by the Scarecrow to help quash a takeover of the once wonderful venue by the evil Jester, who looks like a caricature of Jim Carrey but is voiced by Martin Short. Brother of the late Wicked Witch of the West and heir to her collection of flying monkeys, the Jester has also gained possession of the powerfully magi- cal broom the Wizard once wielded. To depose the villainous one, the trio who once sought heart, brains and courage from the Wizard seek the aid of the beloved Dorothy Gale, the Kansas farm girl who led them on that journey. Dorothy is voiced by Lea Michele of television's "Glee," who may not sing as well as Garland but cer- tainly does well enough with the "Legends" tunes of Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. Such estimable songs as "Even Then" and "When the World" are supplemented by a pleasant Toby Chu score. Time passes much more quickly in Oz than in Kansas. Citizens of Dorothy's hometown, including her uncle Henry and aunt Em, are still dealing with the devasta- tion wreaked by the tornado that knocked Dorothy-Garland unconscious and sent her to a dreamland Oz in 1939. The Jester of Oz – like the Wizard and others in that '39 mas- terpiece – plays a dual role in "Legends." The Jim Carrey-like enemy of Emerald City also portrays, or shares his voice with, a con man attempting to capitalize on the misfortune of the Kansas townspeople. It's hardly a spoiler to state that the Jester and the con artist each gets his come- uppance, or that Dorothy has several new sidekicks en route to an Oz reunion with the old gang – the most memorable a garru- lous gourmand of an owl who's convinced he's gotten too fat to fly. Or that terrier Toto and good witch Glinda are in the animated film. Frankly, the screening seemed like a long 90 minutes. While the rotund owl (par- ticularly when he's relatively quiet) and some of the songs are enjoyable enough, and while the tornado effects aspect of the movie uncannily, if unnecessarily, affili- ates an animated fantasy with too-true tragedies in contemporary America, other characters – and the story as a whole – are not as interesting. The script (by Adam Balsam and Randi Barnes, based on books by Roger Stanton Baum, L. Frank's great- grandson) falls considerably short of the very-clever category and none of the songs is in the same stratosphere as "Over the Rainbow." The 75-year-old Garland classic did just fine with a Wizard, a whole mess of Munchkins and less social commentary. 16 • Milwaukee County Post • May 9, 2014 'Legends of Oz' has a few nuggets worth noting 'Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return' ★ ★ 1/2 Starring the voices of: Lea Michele, Hugh Dancy, Megan Hilty, Patrick Stewart, Bernadette Peters, Dan Aykroyd, Martin Short, Kelsey Grammer, Jim Belushi, Oliver Pratt Rating: PG Running time: 90 minutes Release date: Friday Showings: www.marcustheatres.com Post Staff MILWAUKEE – The Midwest Vocal Express will present the "Shining City On A Hill" concert Saturday at Nathan Hale High School, 11601 W. Lincoln Ave., West Allis. The male a cappella group will perform 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. shows Saturday. The show will include special guests Lunch Break. Tickets are $15 and $20 for general admis- sion and $25 for reserved seating. For details, call 414-367-7097 or visit www.mve.org. Midwest Vocal Express to perform show Saturday Harley-Davidson Museum to unveil summer exhibit Post Staff MILWAUKEE – The Harley-Davidson Museum will open its 2014 summer exhibit, "The American Road," on June 14. According to a museum news release, the exhibit takes visitors on a journey highlight- ing the evolution of the quintessential American road trip from its early beginnings in 1930 to what it has come to represent in pop culture today. Through hundreds of arti- facts and personal stories, visitors will be reminded of how Americana and traveling the open road are essential parts for creating a truly American experience. The exhibit features photographs, film footage, slide shows and countless pieces of vintage travel memorabilia that depict the evolution of the road-travel landscape in the United States. It is curated into three phases. "The American Road" runs through Sept. 1, and access to the exhibit is included with the purchase of general museum admission. 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