First Review: Viva Laughlin

First, a confession.

I don’t remember a lot of the finer points of Blackpool, the original BBC series on which Viva Laughlin is based. It screened here on the ABC. Which is all the more embarrassing when I admit I am very partial to a great musical.

I do remember the original as being bright, bold and very, very cheeky.

It told the story of a new casino boss slamdunked into the middle of a murder investigation. All the while the characters weren’t afraid to burst into song. In TV Drama, that’s a device that’s barely been heard of since Dennis Potter’s Pennies From Heaven and The Singing Detective (yes, we all remember Cop Rock thanks but we’re trying to forget it too).

This version has been spearheaded by our own Hugh Jackman who not only appears in the cast, but whose production company Seed is co-producer. It’s set to air on the Nine Network, which ironically enough, used to be run by a guy who runs casinos.

Jackman plays, Nicky Fontana, the casino rival of the central character, Ripley Holden, played by by Lloyd Owen. In the first episode Jackman sings, or rather, sings-along to the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil.” Despite some of the hype, he’s a supporting character, as is Melanie Griffith.

As each musical number forms a backdrop to the narrative, the characters join in on the vocals. You can faintly hear the originals of Elvis, Rolling Stones or Blondie. In some ways I was reminded of the opening number to the first High School Musical which took place in a karaoke bar. As a ploy to gently break into the musical genre I found myself yelling at my screen, “stop apologising, be a musical or don’t goddammit!” Sure enough, High School Musical went on to become a phenomenon, what do I know?

We are all familiar with how the Yanks have bastardised stories when trying to adapt a UK hit. Overall, Viva Laughlin isn’t too bad a transition. Not surprisingly the sets, the costumes, the hairstyles and make-up are far more saccharine than in the UK, which was gloriously gaudy. Here, in aspirational Nevada, we are reminded about living ‘the American dream.”

The performance by Lloyd Owen is remarkably underplayed. As one who is required to break into song, the serious-faced Owen continually looks like singing is the last thing on his mind.

The transitions in and out of music are less successful than the original where the UK cast were unafraid to throw themselves into extreme emotions. Heightened emotions, whether they be highs or lows, more logically lead to song and tell us something about character. Stylistically, this could have done with more “boots and all” commitment. But I’m not convinced that’s the American way.

Nevertheless, this deserves points for breaking out of genre stereotypes. If you didn’t see Blackpool give this a go. As a mix of drama, thriller and fantasy it’s unlike anything else around.

If you had to roll the dice at a television casino, you’d probably have more fun losing your pants at Viva Laughlin than Las Vegas.

Viva Laughlin premieres in the US tomorrow and airs at 8:30pm Monday on Nine.