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Review

A filmed version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's lively West End and Broadway musical, this tacky production ill-advisedly forgoes live performance. Instead, it's presented as an elementary school pageant, and becomes absolutely nauseating when the school children are allowed to join in on some of the songs. Osmond plays Joseph, the biblical hero who is betrayed by his brothers and left for dead, only to become the Pharroh's governor. Osmond is shirtless much of the time, and doesn't make it as a matinee idol; Collins is only in it for about two minutes, hardly worth the wait. Nevertheless, this is one of Webber's best works, and when the vibrant score is allowed to stand on its own, it outshines the sappy packaging.