La La Land: Don't take it too seriously

Having recently watched La La Land at a local cinema, which was surprisingly packed even though the film had been running for a month, I was surprised at news of a backlash against this crowd-pleasing old-school musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. According to an article in The Guardian, La La land has been "criticised for its treatment of race, gender and jazz." I don't want to get into the details of that or other pieces on the subject - you can always check out the Internet for details.
What I am tired of, honestly, is the fun being taken out of everything nowadays - all art is politicised to within an inch of its life and reduced to joyless chatter. Is it right to subject such a light-hearted film as La La Land to so much scrutiny? Would we ever dig up the past and subject a classic like Singin' in the Rain to the same treatment? So why are we so harsh on a film whose only aim is to entertain (La La Land's plot, like so many other famous Hollywood musicals from the past, is a bit thin, but we're not complaining). Agreed, the film is a bit self-indulgent. Well, in a world where most of the news we hear is bad, such a film couldn't have come at a better time. It's oddly therapeutic to lose yourself for a couple of hours in its upbeat and catchy music and the feeling that all's well within a world where Gosling and Stone dance charmingly in the moonlight. It was a scene so incredibly retro that I almost expected Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds to emerge quietly from behind a lamp-post, and take over the show.
If we try our best not to over-analyse, what's not to love about the film? Ryan Gosling sparkles as a foot-tapping jazz musician with big dreams, and gives you the feeling he could effortlessly step back in time, to vintage Hollywood. And while Emma Stone is no Debbie Reynolds, she brings a sweetness and vulnerability to the role of a struggling actress in love.
Also, Gosling and Stone share some sparkling chemistry in their third film together. Let's face it, there are days when you just want to be stupidly romantic and dance in a dream-like sequence with a handsome boy (or girl) in the moonlight. (Bonus: Getting to soar in the air)
So even if there are people who want to tear the film apart, I doubt its Oscar chances will be dented. I personally feel it should get an award just for being such a refreshing change from what Hollywood has been dishing out for far too long. It may be escapist, it may be juvenile, it may be undermining certain 'serious' issues that nitpickers want to bring up but at this point I honestly don't care. Watching La La Land was uplifting and inspirational and a much-needed escape from reality, albeit for a few hours.
So here's to The Fools Who Dream. May they thrive and make more films like this.
enid@khaleejtimes.com