The Prom

It was a hit on Broadway, but how will The Prom play in Indiana? The extravagant movie version of the lavish musical might provide a clue.

The worthwhile message of acceptance and self-esteem takes a backseat to glitzy song-and-dance numbers on stage, but that seems to elude director Ryan Murphy (Eat Pray Love) on screen, where he struggles to modulate the glamour with the grit.

As the film opens, the oblivious duo of Dee Dee (Meryl Streep) and Barry (James Corden) are reeling from the savage reviews for their over-the-top Eleanor Roosevelt musical. Accurately labeled as conceited and narcissistic, they decide to reinvent themselves, sincerity notwithstanding.

Fellow washed-up star Angie (Nicole Kidman) latches on to the story of Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman), a teenager excluded from her prom at a rural Indiana high school because she’s a lesbian. So they head to the heartland and cause an uproar as the locals — and even Emma herself — wonder what they’re doing.

The effort gets support from the school principal (Keegan-Michael Key), while the closed-minded PTA president (Kerry Washington) preaches wholesome family values. Then the actors realize that in order to achieve anything, they must let their guard down and confront their own fame.

Murphy’s affection for the play is apparent, although his constantly swirling camera and emphasis on closeups encapsulate the uneven nature of this adaptation.

With that said, there are some real highlights among the songs, both in the vocals and choreography (among the expanded settings are a monster-truck rally and a crowded shopping mall). The stars have fun hamming it up in the spirit of self-reflexive parody, tossing out some hilarious zingers, and belting out the elaborate production numbers in all their flamboyant glory.

Still, the non-musical segments generally lack the same spark. Trying to tweak showbiz and Middle America in equal measure, the screenplay by aims to compensate for its lack of satirical edge with mischievous attitude.

However, the film is too steeped in exaggerations and stereotypes for its lessons to carry any meaningful weight, and the obligatory final-act checklist of emotional crescendos rarely resonates.

Maybe it’s a sign of progress that we can laugh about such intolerance and insensitivity, even if there’s a kernel of truth beneath the lightweight, high-spirited surface. Still, while The Prom might have you tapping your toes, the awkwardness overshadows the afterparty.

Rated PG-13, 130 minutes.