So the original (brilliant, charming, wonderful, heart-warming) movie was made a long time ago...remaking it was maybe not a bad idea, bring some fresh young faces to the screen, have some fun with it, introduce it to a new generation of viewers, blah blah blah.

But no. It doesn't work that way. What happens instead is that some lame brain decides that HE'S gonna make it right...and proceeds to do everything possible to ruin a wonderful show.

Like Matthew Broderick. Yes, he's a big star. Yes, he's been good in many things. Yes, he's hot on Broadway right now because of The Producers...but he's COMPLETELY WRONG for this part. Harold Hill is devilish and full of tricks and charming and is completely in control of the situation even when all his plans are crashing down around him...and it all works out fine. Broderick spends the whole show looking like a scared rabbit waiting for everyone to find out about him. Totally unconvincing as a con man.

The rest of the cast follows suit...they're all in there trying, but none of them has a whole lot of feeling or verve...they're just going through the motions. The librarian is actually pretty scary...anyone she shushed would certainly stay shushed...

And then there's the whole television thing...the commercial breaks are so painfully obvious...and because they could, they do some cutesy stuff where people suddenly appear in places that they couldn't be...totally unbelieveable. And no reason for it, in such a down-to-earth kind of show.

Save your money (unlike me, I actually bought this...) and time and sanity. Watch the good version over again instead, you'll be glad you did.