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I love musicals! I am fortunate that my mother have expose me and my siblings  to musicals. Early on, we been watching Annie, The Sound of Music, The Kings & I, Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, The Fiddler on the Roof, Chorus line. I am in love with Broadway that I have starred in some Broadway production in my school when I was younger. So, I was excited when I learned that there is a 2014 version the Annie. I would often sing the hit song “Tomorrow” to lull my baby to sleep.

The 1982 Annie movie has been a family favourite. The story is about this spunky red-head Annie, living with other girls in an orphanage under the care of a drunkard and mean Miss Hannigan. One day, she got the opportunity to be picked to spend a few days with millionaire and cold-hearted Mr. Warbucks for some publicity stunt. Annie soon charmed everyone in the household and even melted Mr. Warbucks’ cold heart. Mr. Warbucks wanted to help Annie look for her lost parents and offered a reward if they come to him. But Miss Hannigan and her accomplices staged a convincing act that her accomplices are the real parents of Annie, misleading Annie and Mr. Warlocks

The 1982 Annie was known for her curly redhead and her freckled face but 2014 Annie stayed away from the stereotyped version of Orphan Annie, instead a cool street-smart African-American Annie played by Quvenzhane Wallis. I like that they got her for the lead role. She has her own charm just like the original Annie and she didn’t overact in the role which most young actresses would do. Instead of Mr. Warbucks the millionaire, they got Jamie Foxx as Mr. Stacks the politician. He wasn’t convincing enough or adorable enough as Albert Finney as Mr. Warbucks. Albert Finney pulled off that mean-guy-but-adorable act to a tee which I think Jamie Foxx fall short. Foxx wasn’t commanding enough in the movie. One of the funny characters in the original movie is the role of Miss Hannigan. Carol Brunett was made for the role of Miss Hannigan. She was absolutely fantastic and amazing. You will love and hate her at the same time. But Cameron Diaz as Miss Hannigan was a total mess to put it mildly. I don’t know if she was trying hard to be like Carol Brunett or trying to be funny or did method-acting & drank some bourbon while filming (Sorry, Cameron!) But honestly, I was a bit embarrass to watch her act in the movie. She overacted too much, I wanted to shield my eyes from the horror. Tim Curry was also a great addition to the 1982 Annie as the cunning brother of Miss Hannigan. In the 2014 Annie, the brother of Miss Hannigan was replaced by Mr. Stacks greedy campaign manager played by Bobby Cannavale. But the only character that came close to the 1982 original was Grace, Mr. Stacks’ assistant and love interest played by Rose Byrne. She was flawless as the prim and proper but occasionally awkward Grace.

One of the reason most people love this movie is, of course, the music. Some of the songs were sang just how we all know and loved it like “Maybe“. But some songs were remixed and rearranged into a more pop-y song like “I Think I Am Going To Like It Here” which I think they should have been left alone. In the original movie, the scenes where Miss Hannigan sang “Little Girls” and the one with his brother “Easy Street” were  memorable moments in the movie but in the 1982 version, those scenes where not set perfectly and the scenes were forgettable. There were also new compositions that was included in the 2014 Annie. I like the song “Opportunity” sang by Annie .

Some trivia about the movie. It is produced by Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Jay-Z. There were rumors that the lead part will be played by Will and Jada’s daugther, Willow. And first choice to play Miss Hannigan was Sandra Bullock which I think will be great in the role. I can think that even Charlize Theron will do justice to the role.

It is sad that this version made the classic Annie musical just a typical run-of-the-mill feel-good movie. When Naj grows up, I would still introduce him to the 1982 Annie film rather than this one.