It’s fascinating how truly strange this film is while still having such a classic musical feel to it. It’s primarily in song, and the arrangements are memorable, though not the kind you’ll likely be humming the next day. Some very straight-forward lyrics do help you adjust to the unusual events of the story. It’s not a normal story, but it’s told to you so directly it all makes sense. Its humor relies on your ability to just go with what’s happening while understanding the oddness of it. I did cringe during some of the performance scenes, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Acknowledge it’s ridiculous, then let yourself feel the emotion waiting on the other side. 

Honestly, I couldn’t tell in the moment what I was meant to be getting out of this, but I enjoyed the unpredictability of it all. It’s given me plenty to ponder since leaving the theater, though I still haven’t come to any grand thematic conclusion. This feels exactly like what it was meant to be, and that’s something I always admire. Every detail feels carefully placed. The performers share this level of intention, with Driver and Cotillard commuting entirely to their roles with completely earnestness despite the situation’s strangeness. I wish I had been more affected by the film, but I still enjoyed it for what it was.