In the not too distant future, on an episode of Jeopardy, under the category “Ground Breaking Cinema” don’t be surprised if this appears – The 2016 film that re-established a genre lost somewhere in the 1960s. And the response – in the form of a question of course – will be…What is La La Land?

If you’re reading this and still asking yourself that question then get, as soon as possible, to the nearest movie theater to experience Damien Chazelle’s masterpiece starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. The 31 year old Chazelle of Whiplash fame has once again teamed up with his Harvard roommate, composer Justin Hurwitz, to deliver a movie musical that is both soaringly beautiful and intimately personal. And while there’s nothing new about a boy meets girl movie musical – La La Land is new and fresh everywhere else.

From the truly inventive opening number shot on a freeway overpass (a real one mind you with cars buzzing underneath) to the poignant epilogue that seamlessly portrays an alternate ending of coulda’ shoulda’ and woulda’s this is a fresh take on a cherished genre. And as each scene and song advances, Chazelle demonstrates that La La Land is every bit as good as movie musicals of the past and more importantly- how much better they can be in the future.

He starts with two very likable actors in Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling and as you’re trying to figure which famous couple they’re emulating it hits you that these two aren’t channeling anyone, they’re playing it themselves and it’s grand. Stone and Gosling’s on screen chemistry is so perfect that no one in the audience seems to notice that their collective singing and dancing would best be described as adequate. Neither one of these folks is a Broadway belter yet remarkably that seems to work to the advantage of both actors.

Reaching for that difficult note and dancing by the numbers makes their characters even more likable, realistic and endearing as they both struggle to survive in a town that’s all business and an industry that appears to have little room for heart. The singing and dancing – which dare I say are at times endearingly ordinary nevertheless – bring a practical accessibility to the story that in the past could only be admired from afar, when the likes of Astaire and Rogers graced the screen. Even when they simply gaze at each other there is that dreamy longing in their eyes and it’s downright romantic. Anyone who’s ever been in love or dreams of being in love is watching this couple vicariously as they head full steam into a classic Hollywood ending…right?  Well maybe – that will depend on your personal definition of happiness. Sure there’s a story going on here and life inevitably gets in the way.

Sebastian is a struggling musician who dreams of his own jazz club – he’s a purest who abhors the superficiality of LA –“they worship everything but value nothing.” There’s no denying Gosling as Sebastian is a dreamboat of the first order. But there’s more, he possesses a range that goes far beyond his looks, summoning the moody edges of Brando in one instance and the smoothness of Astaire the next.

And Emma Stone is simply heartwarming in her portrayal of Mia, the aspiring actress who dreams of winning that one role but settles for a job as a barista on the Warner lot to make ends meet. When summarily dismissed after one line of a reading she pleads “I can do it another way!” You can’t help empathizing with her, eyes full of hope and dreams, a clean scrubbed personality, she’s the girl you bring home to meet mom.

And in a second act treat – real life singer John Legend plays Keith, Sebastian’s old high school friend who’s now the front man for a commercially successful group. He makes Sebastian a generous offer to join the band but Gosling’s character balks because he thinks he’s selling out. Legend delivers a convincingly pragmatic lecture on the realities of the entertainment industry that’s more genuine than anything you might have seen see in a 1950’s or 1960’s movie and his musical number “ Start a Fire” is an added bonus to an already top notch score.

Filmed in and around Los Angeles, the city that coined the same name, La La Land is as much a visual treat as it is a musical one. Chazelle and his team take full advantage of Los Angeles with all its life and moods. The clever capture of light is such that in a way it assumes a supporting role. The music, which is center stage throughout the film elevates the entire work to a modern day classic. The central theme song and the equally emotional City of Stars are hauntingly beautiful and like many well crafted tunes from past musicals, I’m betting you’ll have trouble getting them out of your head.

The film, while shot in present day contains a number of scenes that harken back to a bygone era when it seemed so natural for everyone in a movie to stop what they were doing and burst into song. That era, lost somewhere between Julie Andrews’ melodic performance in the Sound of Music and Pierce Brosnan’s croaking in Mama Mia has been reinvigorated by Damien Chazelle. Balancing the best of the old with a modern story line, songs that capture today’s sound with a clever nod to the past and just the right amount of CGI – La La Land hits all the right notes.

So call someone, set a date, get a big bucket of popcorn and dive right into La La Land. Don’t wait for this one to show up on demand, you’ll need a theater with a really big screen and loads of people around you who just might start clapping. Yes indeed, they’re making movies like this again and its magical.