The above is a quote form the wacky and irreverant comedy of Sarah Silverman, but I bring it up in reference to the new Musical film Rent.

My fellow NUVO-ite Lisa Gauthier gave it five stars and I had to go see it. Not to mention it's been praised as a broadway play in every publication from Vanity Fair to Newsweek. The problem with something that's ever as hyped as this is you really walk in expecting a lot. It's easy to be disappointed, and I was.

I personally would only give it about three stars. That's still a thumbs up, still a "it's a good movie. You should see it," but it was not even close to being the kind of movie I'd give five stars to.

The worst aspect to me was also the best aspect--the songs. Some were wonderful and moving (like the opening "5,250,600 minutes" jingle...) there were several other standouts including a tango and a great number by Rosario Dawson in a strip club.

But I'd say a good 50% of the songs were ham-handed and amaturish. Forced, juvenile-sounding rhyme schemes seemed to be a running theme. They reminded me a lot of the kind of songs that end up in shows that parody a musical ( think the musical numbers on South Park, or Family Guy). This is great when you trying to lampoon something, but this was supposed to be serious subject matter, right?

I also saw the film version of Hedwig and the Angry Inch this year. I think Hedwig should be the standard that Rent is held up against. If this was indeed a five-star movie, then I'd have to say Hedwig was probably an eight-star movie. There's really not a single bad song in Hedwig and I'd say only 50% of the Rent soundtrack lived up to the hype.

I can't fault the director. I thought it was shot beautifully and imaginavely. I also can't fault most of the performances I though almost every actor did a good job with the material. I guess the problem in my opinion was the material. Better songs could've really made this film more enjoyable.

I know i'm in the minority, as everyone that's ever seen the play thinks it's Godhead, but that's my two cents.