A vicious debate is brewing among moviegoers, thanks to Wicked. Hold space for this, y’all — many now think it’s OK to go the theater for a musical and SING ALONG!
Yes, theaters have had to ask patrons to stop singing at screenings of the highly anticipated big screen adaptation. Fans of the 20-year-old musical know the songs by heart, they just want to sing with the flick. They problem? It ruins it for the other audience members who want to hear the fantastic voices of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. They have to now hear the dulcet tones of Tiffany, who once did the costumes for her Tennessee high school’s version where they cut out everything that sounded like gay subtext. (Accepting Gravity doesn’t hit the same but still an earworm.)
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So amid the controversy this opening weekend, one of the stars of cinema’s next big musical was asked his opinion. At the UK premiere of Moana 2 on Saturday, the BBC asked Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson if fans should sing along in the theater. His answer? Firmly on the side of the Tiffanys! He declared:
“Sing! You’ve paid your hard earned money for a ticket, and you’ve gone into a musical and you’re into it. Sing! Especially if you love music, that’s the fun part.”
Dwayne’s answer didn’t go over so well with fans. Cinephiles on social media could smell what The Rock is cooking, and they decided it stinks!
“ain’t nobody paying for a movie ticket to hear the AUDIENCE sing ”
“Stfu Dwayne. I don’t want to hear people in the theater sing. I want to hear the actual experienced people on screen perform, THAT is what I paid for.”
“he is so wrong ”
“there is no brain in that massive head he’s got”
“I love Dwayne Johnson, but I still think he’s wrong on this. I’m so glad nobody sang when I watched Wicked over the weekend.”
“The ONLY time that this MIGHT be acceptable is during a concert movie like Taylor Swift Eras Tour, but I’d still not do it. It would have to be with super loud Dolby speakers where I would not be disturbing anyone around me. I’d still say don’t do it”
“And that’s why I only go to the movies like 3 times a year now. Why am I going to pay 20 bucks plus travel to see something around people who can’t shut up and light up the room taking pictures and are screaming like crazy? I just want to sit in peace watching the movie.”
Oof. That last comment… That’s why movie chains are trying to clamp down on the audience singing. Look, as far as we’re concerned, apart from concert movies like Taylor Swift, y’all need to keep it down and let people watch the movie. Unless you see the Mickey Mouse head bouncing, it ain’t a singalong!
But what do YOU think, Perezcious moviegoers??
[Image via MEGA/WENN/Disney/YouTube.]