"Manifest Destiny: The Lewis and Clark Musical Adventure" Review - Macon Film Festival (****)

Jeremy Hoffman and Kevin Abrams star in "Manifest Destiny:
The Lewis and Clark Musical Adventure."

Comedic gold shines from sea to shining sea in "Manifest Destiny: The Lewis and Clark Musical Adventure," and the mouthful title is worth the talk.

Opening on a classic leather-bound book entitled “Manifest Destiny,” you start to get a sense that the story will be wildly spun as the first song begins. President Thomas Jefferson starts off by appointing Meriwether Lewis (played by Kevin Abrams) and William Clark (played by Jeremy Hoffman) to explore and map the west. This talented duo set off to blaze the trail and set the pace for their masterfully created tale. Hoffman wrote most of the music and performed his fair share, as well.

Review: "The Last Five Years" (****)

Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick star in "The Last Five Years." 

Richard LaGravenese’s adaptation of “The Last Five Years” opens with Cathy (the charming and endlessly talented Anna Kendrick) walking slowly through a nearly-abandoned New York City brownstone singing one of the films best and most poignant songs, “Still Hurting,” a deep and chilling number about the aftermath and heartbreak of a once dreamy relationship with Jamie (the dimpled and big-voiced Jeremy Jordon, Tony-nominated for his performance in "Newsies") that has now turned sour and cold. “The Last Five Years” the film was inspired by and derived from Jason Robert Brown’s off-Broadway production that had a short, successful run. I never saw the play (believe me, I wish I did), but let me tell you, this movie is wonderful.