Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

This very entertaining film may be the only movie musical to contain an Elvis-inspired number that celebrates a dentist's sadism. This song, shocking, funny, and very catchy, neatly summarizes the charms of this simultaneously light and dark movie musical. The major share of the film's success belongs to lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. Their songs straddle the line between joy and satire. Musically they invoke recognizable styles ('50s doo-wop, saccharine Broadway love song), but the pointed, comical lyrics constantly collide with the music's sensibilities and the contrast produces continuously entertaining results. Director Frank Oz, arguably the finest puppeteer of his generation, does a spectacular job bringing the gigantic Audrey II to life. Former Four Tops singer Levi Stubbs gives a superb vocal performance as the cannibalistic plant. The rest of the case finds the absolute right level of outrageousness to match the cartoonish art direction. Steve Martin, playing the sadistic dentist, and Bill Murray, a masochistic patient, have a comedic scene that matches the songs for perversity and hilariousness. Ashman and Menken would go on to even greater success, penning the songs in Disney's The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide