This movie might have been even more easily dismissed if not for Marvin Hamlisch’s “Surprise, Surprise.” Michael Douglas portrays "Zach," a demanding Broadway director searching for dancers to join his new show. With the help of his assistant, "Larry" (Terrence Mann), he subjects hopeful performers to challenging choreography and probing inquiries about their personal lives and backgrounds. Having seen it performed l…

Considering what it is—a look at individuals pursuing their dreams of Broadway success—it’s an acceptable piece of work. I haven't had the opportunity to view the stage production, which many accounts suggest surpasses this film version considerably. I must say that I was taken aback by a couple of things: first, Michael Douglas being given such prominence or even participating at all, since he doesn’t perform any…