Stripped of originality

IT’S NOT exactly yet another remake of A Star is Born, but Burlesque (US/12A/119 mins) is the latest Hollywood movie to tell the time-honoured tale of a star-struck hopeful who arrives in LA a nobody and triumphs against the odds to see her name up in lights.

In this case, the ingénue is Ali (Christina Aguilera), a naïve waitress from Iowa, who is bowled over by the risqué dance routines on show at the Burlesque Lounge, run by Tess (Cher). But Ali isn’t content to simply steal the spotlight away from brattish diva Nikki (Kristen Bell).

Rather than lip-synch to classic songs, Ali wants to sing live, while she disports herself on stage. Will such a radical departure from the burlesque tradition prove enough to save Tess’s beloved club from being bought out by sleazy millionaire, Marcus (Eric Dane)? And can star-in-the-making, Ali, find love with humble bartender, Jack (Cam Gigandet)?