The Prom: A Story Of Love, Inclusion, And Perfect Choreography

WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Netflix’ The Prom

If you’re looking for a pre-Christmas boost of good-hearted humanity, The Prom is at your service.

The film has an all-star line-up: James Corden (The Late Late Show, Cats) eternal icon Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia), Nicole Kidman (Bombshell, Paddington) and Keegan-Michael Key (Mad TV, Keegan and Peele) to name a few. With Ryan Murphy (Glee, Scream Queens) at the helm, I had high hopes for this movie.

Thankfully, my expectations were met and excelled.

In New York, Barry Glickman (Corden) and Dee Dee Allen (Streep, in a glorious purple sequined jumpsuit), are experiencing a career flop (Changing Lives). Corden and Streep are a surprisingly charming duo, even if their onscreen presence is reminiscent of a fever dream. I wasn’t expecting to see them lock lips later in the movie, but hey- anything goes in a Netflix adaptation.

Desperate for some good press, the duo head to Indiana with Angie Dickinson (Kidman), Trent Oliver (Andrew Rannells) and Sheldon Saperstein (Kevin Chamberlain) tagging along. This rag-tag gang may play desperate celebrity caricatures, but their ignorance is surprisingly lovable.

In Indiana, 17-year-old lesbian Emma Nolan (newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman) and school principal Tom Hawkins (Key) are fighting with the PTA for Emma’s right to attend prom with her girlfriend Alyssa Greene (Ariana DeBose), whose identity is unknown at this point. As if it couldn’t get any more complicated, Alyssa’s mom, Mrs. Greene (a pompous Kerry Washington), heads the PTA fight against Emma.

The Broadway gang rally around Emma’s cause and initially make the situation worse. However, as they soften towards Emma as an individual, they begin to boost her confidence. A great example of this is when the PTA votes to, technically, allow Emma to attend a prom (more on that later). Barry begs to give Emma a makeover, and refreshingly, Emma is a willing participant. I can’t help but compare this to almost every high-school movie from the year 2000 to present, where the main character is often shoehorned into changing everything about themselves to get the guy/fit in/achieve a goal. Emma knows who she is, but is also open to some well-intentioned love and advice.

After a few glimpses into Alyssa and Emma’s love life, the plot hits its major conflict point. You sadness is palpable as Emma pieces together her isolation from the "real" prom, which is being held elsewhere. Pellman gives a wonderfully heart-breaking performance here that solidifies her up-and-coming status.

Alyssa and Emma’s relationship is a harsh reality for many LGBTQ+ individuals. Emma is openly gay, and finds difficulty in Alyssa’s fear of coming out. As a viewer, I could see both sides of the conflict: Emma is frustrated, but Alyssa isn’t ready for how her life may change for the worse if she comes out. It’s a difficult situation that is unfortunately still prevalent today.

Amid all this, Barry and Dee Dee have a heart to heart about Barry’s estrangement from his parents. I couldn’t help but remember that James Corden is not a gay man, and I was unsure of how to feel about this. Should this role have been given to gay actor, who would’ve been able to portray this with a personal touch? Then again, Kristen Stewart’s recent Varity interview came to mind, where she addressed the “gray area” of whether gay characters should only be portrayed by gay actors: 

“… it’s a slippery slope conversation because that means I could never play another straight character if I’m going to hold everyone to the letter of this particular law.” 

Corden’s overall portrayal of Barry has received mixed reviews so far, so upon the movie’s worldwide release, we’ll see what the general opinion is.

Emma organises an Inclusive Prom, inviting all. In a welcome conclusion, Alyssa comes out to her mom on the day of the Inclusive Prom by publicly declaring her love for Emma: “I don’t want to hurt anyone- I just want to be me.” she cries. Her mom, echoing anti-gay statements, leaves and Alyssa is rightfully upset.

In the end, Emma and Alyssa can openly be a couple at the Inclusive Prom (Dance With You reprise). In the big finale (It’s Time To Dance), Barry is crowned prom king/queen (it wasn’t specified) and makes peace with his own traumatic prom experience, Mrs. Greene tells Alyssa she accepts her, and show-stopping choreography brings us to a close.

So, what’s the verdict?

The Prom felt like a night out with friends. The cast balance each other perfectly, with the ridiculous narcissism of the Broadway celebrities complimenting the small-town folk in a way I wasn’t expecting. This is a hopeful story of finding oneself. Aren’t we all looking for a thread of hope in these [sighs] unprecedented times?

The Prom attests to what humans can achieve when we band together, love one another, and look towards common sense. Throw in jazz-hands and a catchy soundtrack, and you’ve got yourself a streaming hit.

The Prom was released in select cinemas on December 4th. You can catch the film on Netflix from December 11th.

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