The movie Hugh Jackman called “perfect”
Even though he’s best known for playing mutton-chopped mutant Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, Hugh Jackman has never made it anything less than perfectly clear that his first love was, is, and will continue to be the stage musical.
Prior to being drafted into the cast of the comic book adaptation two weeks into shooting when Mission: Impossible II going over-schedule ruled Dougray Scott out of the part, Jackman had gained his first taste of mainstream attention as Curly in a production of Oklahoma! in London, which landed him an Olivier Award nomination for ‘Best Actor in a Musical’.
Within years of his Hollywood breakthrough, Jackman had ascended to the top of the A-list without ever forgetting his roots, winning a Tony Award for ‘Outstanding Actor in a Musical’ for The Boy from Oz, in addition to hosting the ceremony itself in three consecutive years between 2003 and 2005. In turn, that won him another trophy after he scooped an Emmy for ‘Outstanding Individual Performer in a Variety, Musical, or Comedy’ show.
Keeping in mind that this had all happened half a decade after he first made it big in America, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the movie Jackman designated as “perfect” just so happens to be one of the greatest, most iconic, and acclaimed musicals of all time.
When naming his five favourite films to Rotten Tomatoes, the star was unequivocal in his appraisal: “You’ve got to put Singin’ in the Rain in there,” he said. “I’m trying to think of what I’m taking out. It’s just a perfect movie. I don’t care who you are; it’s amazing.” It would be cinematic sacrilege for anyone – including Jackman – to try and mount a direct remake, but he’s nonetheless paid tribute to the showstopping landmark in his own way during his forays back onto the boards.
Fittingly, when Jackman embarked on his own one-man stage show – both in 2015’s Australian tour Broadway to Oz and his global sensation The Man. The Music. The Show. that sold almost 300,000 tickets during its European leg alone – the title track from Singin’ in the Rain was performed each and every night as part of a medley, reinforcing his adoration of the Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds classic.
Regardless of how many times he reprises the role of Wolverine – with next year’s Deadpool 3 marking the tenth time he’ll strap on the claws opposite Ryan Reynolds’ title hero – the all-singing and all-dancing version of Jackman will always one he’d prefer people remember as a key part of his legacy, with Singin’ in the Rain proving to be such a formative experience that he’s willing to go out on a limb and label it as a film that doesn’t have any flaws whatsoever.
