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 soundtrack is performed by Connie and Carla (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." The soundtrack'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 and Nora Dunn's Swingle Sisters routine from Saturday Night Live. Vardalos and 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," and "Don't Rain on My Parade." The numbers that Connie and Carla 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 soundtrack 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