This type of movie is the least fun to write a review for. It isn't offensively bad in any way so as to merit a gleefully scathing response (which also precludes it from venturing into "so bad it's good" territory), but while it's not necessarily boring (at least on a first viewing), it is thoroughly uncompelling. I suspect that, on a second viewing, boredom would indeed begin to set in.
I've never been a fan of biopics that cover a very long period of time and thus come across like a collection of the subject's "greatest hits" (no pun intended, since this film adheres to this style of storytelling quite literally). I prefer it when the films cover a specific event from the life of their subject or, at least, examine a specific aspect of their character, like how "The Aviator" tracked Howard Hughes' descent into mental illness. This gives the actors and the script a chance to do their job and really examine a specific story. "Jersey Boys" manages to squeeze in a few running storylines, but a lot of it feels disconnected due to the frequent time jumps taken. It's hard to get attached to the characters and their problems when they're often seconds away from jumping a few years into the future, far removed from their current situation.
The movies saving grace, and what keeps it from falling into "boring" territory is that it's never far away from launching into another musical number. The songs here are not the most intricately staged numbers in movie musical history, but they are catchy and entertaining enough to hold your attention for a time. Christopher Walken also turns in a decent performance as a benevolent local gangster, elevating the film simply due to the fact that he's Christopher Walken.
Were it not for its feature film quality production values and the appearance of a genuine Movie Star like Walken, it would be easy to mistake "Jersey Boys" as a made for T.V. movie. Sadly, that's about the extent of its depth.
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