The
soundtrack
to
Connie and Carla
, the tale of two dinner theater chanteuses who must pose as drag queens after they witness a murder, plays more like an original cast recording from a revue than a typical collection of
film music
. Aside from
Peaches & Herb
's
"Groove Thing,"
the entire
is performed by
(
Nia Vardalos
and
Toni Collette
), with the help from "
the Belles of the Balls
," the film's cast of drag queens, and
Debbie Reynolds
, who accompanies the duo on a medley of
"I Cain't Say No/There Are Worse Things I Could Do/What I Did for Love."
's opening cut, a medley of
"Oklahoma!/Superstar/Papa, Can You Hear Me?/Memory"
is especially funny, recalling not only excruciating dinner theater but
Jan Hooks
Nora Dunn
Swingle Sisters
routine from
Saturday Night Live
.
Vardalos
Collette
have more than decent singing voices, so the listener ends up laughing with, instead of at, their performances of
"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,"
"Maybe This Time,"
"Don't Rain on My Parade."
The numbers that
perform on their own are less overwhelming than the ones that also feature the cast, although the rousing performance of
"Mame"
is quite entertaining. While the
is definitely over the top (including
Randy Edelman
's perky, busy
"Connie and Carla Overture"
), it's also a lot of fun, especially for anyone who enjoyed the movie. ~ Heather Phares