I went into “Jersey Boys” with low expectations, but I left impressed. Director Clint Eastwood did an excellent job combining the snappy flow of a gangster film with the theatrical flare of a musical.

“Jersey Boys,” based on the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name, follows the trials and tribulations of the 1960s rock band The Four Seasons. Primarily focusing on Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young), “Jersey Boys” shows the group’s humble beginnings in New Jersey through to its 1990 reunion performance in New York.

I was not familiar with the story of “Jersey Boys” going into the film, and as a result I think Eastwood did a good job making the story palatable without getting bogged down in small details. The film unfolds in broad strokes and despite a few plodding moments, the film uses its length well. “Jersey Boys” really seems to find its footing in the last hour, but the build up is still satisfying to watch.

I especially appreciated how the film handled exposition. Much like Henry Hill’s expository narration in “Goodfellas,” “Jersey Boys” lets the characters speak straight to the audience like they’re telling a story of the old days. As a result, it lets the film move past unimportant events to the main plot. Some events, like the death of Valli’s daughter, would have been great to see explored further, but Eastwood does a good job of keeping the film focused.

My one complaint about the film is that it plays much of the story very safe. Sure, we hear a few f-bombs and see the toll fame can take on people and their loved ones, but surely the mob being involved with one of the biggest bands on the planet at the time would cause some darker moments. Throughout the film, I found myself wondering what the gritty, true to life story of The Four Seasons really looked like without the sheen the musical moments provide.

I enjoyed “Jersey Boys.” It was like a mix of “That Thing You Do” and a gangster film with Christopher Walken and Clint Eastwood involved. Even though I’m not a big fan of musicals, except maybe “Little Shop of Horrors,” I felt that the film does a great job balancing the musical elements with drama without letting it derail the other aspects of The Four Seasons’ story.

4 out of 5 Stars