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Middle School Musical Sparks Outrage Over 9/11 Take
31 Jan
Summary
- A drama teacher creates a controversial 9/11 musical as revenge.
- The musical features a conspiracist take with Osama Bin Laden dancing.
- Rob Lowe plays a principal navigating the inappropriate production.
Giselle Bonilla's debut feature, "The Musical," offers a unique blend of dark comedy and coming-of-age drama. The film follows Doug Leibowitz, a disgruntled drama teacher at Cedarhurst Middle School, who seeks revenge on his ex-girlfriend and her new partner, the principal. He decides to stage an unconventional musical about the 9/11 attacks as his revenge.
Doug, portrayed by Will Brill, corrupts his impressionable students with his embittered rants, pushing a conspiratorial and tasteless narrative. The musical includes absurd elements like Osama Bin Laden moonwalking and Rudy Giuliani breakdancing, set to loopy songs. Despite its poor taste, the production touches upon themes of generational trauma and the destructive power of resentment.
Rob Lowe plays Principal Brady, a seemingly okay guy who becomes a target for Doug's animosity. Lowe skillfully portrays the principal as an outwardly confident but inwardly worried authority figure. The film captures the consuming nature of resentment, making it a compelling, albeit divisive, watch.
