 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
- Review Date: July 20, 2005
- NR
- Genre: Musical
- 2000
Common Sense Media says
Stage musical successfully brought to the screen.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this Old Testament tale is suitable for grade-school kids. Some things to note: Joseph's solo ballad laments persecution of the Hebrews. Joseph's father is obviously a polygamist. Fully-clothed dancers simulate orgies with mildly suggestive choreography. A sheep is dismembered (though it's clearly a mannequin-like fake). Religious viewers may have qualms about the treatment of the Scripture-based material (God is barely mentioned here). The themes of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and ultimate forgiveness, however, are universal.
What's the story?
Schoolchildren assemble for an Old Testament pageant, but once the music begins, the onstage action becomes real, and the school's headmaster (Richard Attenborough) reappears as Jacob, father to eleven sons. After Jacob gives favored son Joseph (Donny Osmond) a present of a spectacular, multicolored coat, his jealous brothers fake the boy's death. In fact, Joseph has been sold into slavery in Egypt, where he's unjustly accused of dallying with a pyramid tycoon's vampish wife (Joan Collins). In prison, he gains fame interpreting fellow inmates' dreams, and is then called on to explain the Pharaoh's troubling nightmares, after which he's hired as Pharaoh's top advisor. Years pass, and Joseph's famine-stricken brothers come to Egypt to buy grain. Unrecognized, Joseph bitterly frames his youngest brother for thievery. But when the remaining brothers selflessly offer to accept his punishment, Joseph is moved to reveal his true identity, and the family is happily reunited.
Is it any good?
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT retains all the sparkling wit, style, and melodies of the original Broadway musical. In a nimble eighty-minutes, viewers get a banquet of different musical styles. Jacob is told of Joseph's "death" in a twangy country-western lament; Pharaoh relates his dreams in pure Elvis style (he is The King, after all); the framing of brother Benjamin is set to Caribbean calypso; and the rest is Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular brand of catchy power pop. The multi-ethnic cast (old Jacob evidently had wide-ranging tastes in wives) contributes to the world-beat feel.
Donny Osmond's all-American good looks make him a very likeable Joseph. The real find here, however, is Maria Friedman. Introduced as a mousy schoolteacher, she blossoms into a superb narrator. Her expressive face lets the audience know just what's going on (a great asset since the lyrics by Tim Rice -- of The Lion King fame -- are occasionally obtuse). As with the movie Godspell, religious viewers may have qualms about the treatment of the Scripture-based material (God is barely mentioned here). The themes of sibling rivalry and ultimate forgiveness, however, are universal.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how they handle feelings of jealousy. Why did Joseph ultimately forgive his brothers?
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AGE
:-) i'm in the play - it's awesome
I haven't actually seen the MOVIE, but I'm in the PLAY and it's a great storyline, especially for Christians like myself!!! (hahahaha) (follow up - the play is now over. so sad. but it was still tons of fun and i loved it! still a great message!)
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AGE
It's really great! (Barely mentions god, if your concerned about it.) And is just a great story.There is one scene that if your a very sensetive parent, you may not want your child to see this, in potiphar's house, which is joseph's master after he is sold into slavery, mrs. potiphar flirts with him. there are many fully clothed dancers, just with a little risqu'e feautures. and a goat is attachked, but is easily seen as a manequin. i sugest going on youtube and looking for these certain scenes, and then deciding for yourself. Again, great movie! i watched it all the time when i was little!
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AGE
Awesome musical!
Next to Cats (also written by Andrew Lloyd Webber), Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat is my favourite musical! At first I thought it'd be overrated, but I was quite mistakened. It's got amazing music, it's funny, and if you're looking for a Biblical kind of movie (this I think has to do with both the Christian and Jewish religion since the story of Joseph is in the Old Testament... right?) then you're right on target. Not only that but it's not very long-- it's a short musical (did you know the original 1st draft of the musical was only a few minutes?), a little over an hour. The only concern for your kids would be the costumes-- some of them are a bit dirty; and then there's the Potiphar scene, which very dirty and is pretty disturbing... plus, Donny Osmond (Joseph) is shirtless for the vast majority of the movie. o_o A liiiiittle weird... Anyway, my favourite song in the musical is Go Go Go Joseph! It's extremely catchy. My sisters and I sing it around the house all the time. XD I also like Close Every Door. It's very touching. We had to sing it in chorus a few years ago. And Pharaoh's Dream Explained is another one of those easily-stuck-in-your-head songs. This is a musical that shouldn't be missed!
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AGE
AMAZING MUSIC
THIS MOVIE IS AMAZING. disregard the views below. the music and visuals are fantastic and donnie osmond is great. ive watched this all my life. it also helps teach the story in the bible. lil sexy at some parts.
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AGE
An educational Christian movie.
This movie is very educational and funny for young kids and parents alike. Told through song, kids easily access the meaning of Joseph and his struggles while also being thoroughly entertained. The only thing that worries me about this movie is some of the outfits; some are a little skin-tight and at times Joseph's (Donny Osmond) clothing is a little too short.
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AGE
not bad at all!
well, it's not bad at all. Yes there is a scene that might be a little bit sexual, and a little bit of violence,(though it's a mannequin.) But otherwise very vgood movie.
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AGE
I think this movie is great is this did bring back old school time memories realating to the story
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AGE
My kids love it. They started watching it when they were 3 and 5. It is good for long car rides when you have listen to what they are watching, the music is very catchy :-)
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AGE
not frightening........
My 4 year old sister & I both saw this.
She enjoyed it a lot, I looked at appropriateness, here's what I came up with.
this isn't a frightening movie at all, anyoe could see this without being scared. But it had a little inapropriatness, a lot of scenes are filmed with a bare chested man (mostly Joseph) so it can be inapropriate for some parents, there's a lot of flirting and possibly sex in one scene with potiphar's wife and Joseph. a lot of people near the Pharoh wear clothes that you can see an outline. also there are some scenes with smoking and alchohol.
I'd say this is alright for little kids but sensitive parents might find this inapropriate.
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AGE
NOT for children
"Fully-clothed dancers simulate orgies with mildly suggestive choreography." How is this at all appropriate for children? Orgies, crotch-shots, bare buttocks visible via see-through costumes, ornaments placed on breasts...This "Old Testament tale" is at best a misrepresentation of the Bible (the real story of Joseph is not about personal fulfillment as this movie suggests, but about faith and trust in God. Also, in the scene where Mrs. Potiphar (Joan Collins) strips and nearly rapes Joseph, he submits and seems to enjoy it. Not so according to scripture.), and at worst, it is a mockery. Definitely NOT for children, or for anyone wanting to educate their children about the Joseph in the bible.
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| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | David Mallet |
| Cast: | Donny Osmond, Joan Collins, Richard Attenborough |
| Genre: | Musical |
| Run time: | 80 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 21, 2000 |
| DVD release date: | March 4, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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