Watch OJ: The Musical

OJ: The Musical is a 2013 independent comedy film directed by Jeffrey Blitz. The movie takes a hilarious spin on one of the most controversial trials in American history, the OJ Simpson trial. The film revolves around a struggling theater writer, Eugene Olivier (Jordan Kenneth Kamp), who is given the opportunity to premiere his controversial musical “OJ: The Musical” at the prestigious Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The film begins with Eugene Olivier, a struggling writer, pitching his idea for a musical about the OJ Simpson trial to his friend and producer, Teddy Greene (Malcolm Barrett). Eugene plans to use the trial to discuss larger issues of race relations in America, but Teddy is hesitant to produce the show due to its sensitive nature. Eugene then gets a job as a history teacher at a high school where he shares his ideas of the musical with his students. The students allow Eugene to stage the musical in their school auditorium, rope in their friends to act, and help stage the musical. Thus, the grumpy high school teacher assembles an oddball crew of actors and together, they set out to produce what Eugene is convinced will be a hit.

The musical, which features a cast of OJ Simpson, his lawyers, and the victims’ families, offers a hilarious take on the infamous trial. With catchy songs and witty dialogue, the musical highlights the absurdity of the trial while simultaneously shedding light on serious issues like race, media, and the American legal system.

As Eugene and his crew of misfits prepare for their big premiere, they encounter a series of setbacks, including the sudden departure of the lead actor, a last-minute script change, and an unexpected revelation about Teddy. However, despite these struggles, Eugene and his team manage to put on a fantastic show, securing their spot in the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh.

One of the things that make the movie enjoyable is the cast of eccentric characters. Eugene struggles to keep his cast and crew from falling apart, including a conspiracy theorist, a celebrity stalker, and a young actress with questionable talent. Along the way, Eugene also grapples with a fickle girlfriend, an ex-partner who steals his show idea, and a troubled past that he can’t seem to shake off. It is the perfect recipe for chaos, and that is where the humor comes from.

The film is marked with numerous musical numbers that are brilliantly sewn together with comic sequences. The songs are catchy, upbeat, and cleverly written, adding more flavor to the comedy. The musical numbers are humorous and provide relief from the plot's more serious parts, tackling issues of race, media hype, corruption, and a failing education system, to name a few.

While the movie is hilarious, it also explores some significant societal issues that continue to plague America. Through its satire, viewers can see some of the underlying problems that persist in the criminal justice system and the inherent bias that still exists in America’s news media.

Overall, OJ: The Musical is a witty and thoroughly entertaining film that doesn't take itself too seriously. It is a tribute to the legacy of the O.J. Simpson trial and serves as a sharp commentary on race, justice, and American popular culture. The movie manages to balance its light-hearted tone with serious issues, providing an overall satisfactory experience.

OJ: The Musical is a 2013 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.