Little Shop of Horrors

Little Shop of Horrors opens with warm affection for its Motown pastiche and charming leads, builds to an explosive peak with Steve Martin's universally beloved Dentist number, and sustains high sentiment through the emotionally resonant Suddenly Seymour duet before a brief dip in the mechanical late-second-act gives way to a crowd-pleasing finale. Reviewers consistently praise the film's catchy songs, committed performances, and impressive Audrey II puppetry, with only minor notes about cheesy excess and occasional dull stretches keeping it from perfection. The overall arc is one of sustained delight punctuated by two towering high points that audiences return to repeatedly.