The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Blistering performances.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

This movie is a great biopic of one of the most popular and beloved entertainment figures in history. Tow things make this movie work: the music, which is sung by Al Jolson, and Larry Park's depiction of Jolson which captures the persona of Al Jolson. For this movie to succeed, it was critical that Parks convince the audience that he is Al Jolson, and he does just that. Although the music is an essential element of the story, this movie would have succeeded without the music, so effective was Park's performance. Al Jolson was more than just an entertainer. He was a symbol for an era exemplified by rapid social change as exemplified by Jolson's style. Jolson was the people's entertainer, he represented everyone and lifted everyone's spirits. To the movie's credit, it does not downplay the role of black face in Jolson's act. It is an integral part of the story and is shown without fanfare or political implications. The audience can react whichever way they want to it. But one thing is certain: Jolson does not use black face to denigrate; instead it becomes part of his persona, at least on the stage. Jolson makes black face a symbol for respect.

The world turns it's head one day when this musical artist went to work on Broadway. Seeing this movie called " The Jolson Story " is a must for all classic movie lovers. The incredible combination of Larry Parks and Scotty Beckett as Asa Jolson was a stroke of sheer genius. This energetic film legacy of the 30's superstar is to say the least fantastic. It begins with the early roots of the boy Asa and his start in the evolving burlesque show with Steve Martin (William Demarest). Although Martin is a combination of several key people in Al's real life, the magical rise of Jolson is due entirely to his electrically charge talent which he exhibited on film. However, once the legendary tunes begin to lay the foundation for the Jazz Singer the rest they say is history. Although much of the actual history of the great singer is concocted or at least structured, the heart remains that of Jolson and one can easily forgive the short cuts to be entertaining. Nothing would have pleased the great stage entertainer more than to repeat his life for a new audience such as we. A lively rendition and enthusiastically recommended to anyone with a ear for our American Broadway heritage in the form of Al Jolson. ****

Spectacularly Camp,grossly sentimentalised and and completely irresistible biopic of a man who was so unregenerately "Showbiz" that he really did believe his own publicity,thought his wonderful,tuneful but essentially trivial songs enhanced the lives of his audience,and that his eminence in his own field gave him rein to ride roughshod over other people,women in particular.Nothing like a modern rock star then. After Chaplin,Jolson was the next Megastar.Unlike Chaplin,you didn't have to go out of your house to come under his spell.The rise of Radio and gramophone recordings coincided with the burgeoning of Jolson's career. "The Jolson Story" is Hollywood escapism at its highest level.With superb production values,a memorable soundtrack and exemplary performances,it was just the stuff American moviegoers needed after the end of World War Two. Young viewers who may have difficulty with Al Jolson's OTT persona might be better off approaching the movie in a spirit of post - modern irony . In a far more innocent age he was regarded as just as exciting and "now" as any foul - mouthed misogynist who may strut his brief hour on the stage in 2008. From the era when "The Varsity Drag" meant something totally different, Jolson's naif optimism shines through the grey years of the first Great Depression. The movie was made in the first flush of American Post - War optimism,when where the Yanks led the whole world was sure to follow. Soon enough Cold War paranoia set in and wonderfully silly big budget musicals gradually became a thing of the past.For those of us to whom the terms "Hollywood" and "real - life" were determinedly antithetical,it was a sad moment."The Jolson Story" represents the summit of "Entertainment for Entertainment's sake" movies.Put the DVD in your player,forget for a little while that you can't afford to pay the electric bill and eat every day,forget the Hoodies waiting to mug you in the stairwell on your way to buy the groceries,that the credit - crunch has reduced your life savings to a few measly quid and return to the days when the world was safer,warmer and in glorious technicolor .

I'm slightly bemused to read several raves for this movie; I had assumed that a modern day audience would find the over the top Jolie style risible and I must conclude that the raves are the work of older viewers. By 1946 when the film was made even the guy in the street was beginning to figure out that Jolie was prime ham, a sort of singing Charles Laughton if you will with an ego the size of Texas. By 1946 the ex-band solo singer was well established and the likes of Crosby, Sinatra, Haymes etc mostly just stood in front of a microphone and sang seeing no need to flail the air or ham it up on one knee - on the other hand todays' vocalists are also incapable of standing still and just singing so maybe Jolie's histrionics does strike a chord. If you ARE prepared to suspend disbelief and admire corn and chuzpah in equal measures there the chances are you will enjoy this hoke which is about as accurate as a Mickey Mouse watch - Jolie's mother died when he was eight years old, Julie Benson (in real life Ruby Keeler who refused to lend her name to the film) was Jolie's Third and not First wife as is implied here, the character of Steve Martin was pure fiction etc. Larry Parks does do a fine job of miming and William Demarest is outstanding as a character who didn't exist. If you like your entertainers in yer face you'll love this given that Jolie makes Ethel Merman seem subtle.