Overview

• Bill Condon’s screen adaptation of the Kander & Ebb/Terrence McNally musical, based on Manuel Puig’s novel, opens in U.S. theaters Oct. 10 via Roadside Attractions.
• Critics from the Associated Press and the Marin Independent Journal single out Tonatiuh’s turn as Luis Molina as the film’s standout performance.
• Reviewers say the stark prison drama and lavish Technicolor musical sequences make for striking contrasts that blunt the movie’s emotional payoff.
• Jennifer Lopez delivers glamorous fantasy numbers as a screen siren and related personas, with notices praising spectacle even as some find less nuance than in the lead.
• Early notices commend the cast and craftsmanship yet describe the overall impact as entertaining but emotionally muted, with both outlets giving two-and-a-half-star assessments.