Good film, but with reservations...

I have always enjoyed this film. Ellen Greene is the definitive Audrey, and Rick Moranis does a more than adequate job as Seymour, with a surprisingly good voice. My problem is with the ending. The movie, while mostly funny, is supposed to have a very dark ending, with a message of what can happen when you are too success-driven.

The original film, and of course the theatrical production, does have this dark ending, with the warning of "Don't Feed the Plants". Apparently, there was an alternative ending (that I believe you can find on youtube), which shows the plants basically taking over the world. Apparently, screenings were held which didn't go too well... people didn't like the dark ending. All the film has at the end is that little wink at the audience with the little plant smiling.

The entire scene of Seymour feeding Audrey to the plant ("at last I'll be Somewhere That's Green"), is missing, which is too bad. What is there is good, but it could have been so much better.

This movie musical has everything!

I have fond memories of "Little Shop Of Horrors" as it was the subject of my very first newspaper movie review, but it's special in so many ways that it's hard to list them all. I can't think of another movie that so skillfully combines so many elements - music, horror, comedy, romance - with each done so well, instead of the usual case where a movie works in one area while suffering in others. There are moments of genuine thrills, followed moments later by equally real huge laughs, and the love story between meek Seymour and the sweet Audrey evokes some of the most deep, heartfelt emotions ever created onscreen. You long deeply to see them not only survive, but to end up with that happily ever after in the tract house with the white picket fence far from skid row. The music by Menken and Ashman is just genius in its cleverness and wit, some of the very best and most memorable, sing-able tunes ever to grace a soundtrack. The performances are perfect, with Rick Moranis wonderfully cast (and surprisingly, a decent singer, especially evident in the full version of "The Meek Shall Inherit" on the soundtrack CD), and Ellen Greene reprises her original off-Broadway role as Audrey, making the heartbreakingly damaged girl with a heart of gold into a character you can't help but adore and root for, and her amazing voice soars to the heavens. And of course, Steve Martin must be mentioned for his achingly hilarious turn as the sadistic dentist (the Academy completely robbed Martin of a much-deserved Supporting Actor Oscar for this role), and Bill Murray as his all-too eager patient nearly manages to do the impossible and steal the scene from Martin. There's not much left say, this is simply a movie that must be seen to fully grasp its popularity and irresistible, timeless appeal. Sheer perfection, and an absolute joyous movie! I can't possibly recommend it highly enough - "go get it!"

One of the Greatest Musicals In History

Little Shop of Horrors blows me away every single time I watch the movie. The music is amazing, almost every single song on the film is catchy and will have you singing it because it gets stuck in your head. "Suddenly, Seymour" literally gives me chills every time I hear it. This movie was made in 1986 and it hasn't aged at all 21 years later. The look of everything from the location to Audrey II, it couldn't have been done better if it was made now. Overall, this movie deserves all of the praise it gets and it is a have to see movie that will become one of your favorites after you watch it. It is just an amazing movie that will continue on for a long time to come