History YMMV / LaLaLand

* EsotericHappyEnding: {{Inverted}}. The ending is supposed to be at least somewhat sad, as it's not a typical HappilyEverAfter, but both Mia and Sebastian got what they wanted in their lives before they met each other. If anything, they ''do'' have a HappilyEverAfter, just not with each other.

** This film's rivalry with ''Film/Moonlight2016'' becomes this as of 2018, where Damien Chazelle's next film, ''Film/FirstMan'', is '''about''' the ''moon'' landing. For added bonus, Barry Jenkins' next film, ''Film/IfBealeStreetCouldTalk'', has ''jazz'' elements in the original score. Both films were also nominated for several awards at the Oscars, though ironically both received AwardSnub treatments this time, with [[FriendlyFandoms fans of both films agreeing with eachother that it's a shame.]]
** The film reel of ''Film/RebelWithoutACause'' burning up, since its italian title is ''Gioventù Bruciata'', which translates to ''Burned'' Youth.

** This film's rivalry with ''Film/Moonlight2016'' becomes this as of 2018, where Damien Chazelle's next film, ''Film/FirstMan'', is '''about''' the ''moon'' landing. For added bonus, Barry Jenkins' next film, ''Film/IfBealeStreetCouldTalk'', has ''jazz'' elements in the original score. Both films were also nominated for several awards at the Oscars, though ironically both received AwardSnub treatments this time, with [[FriendlyFandoms fans of both films agreeing that it's a shame.]]

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Sebastian big time. A lot of people love him and his passion about music, especially with regards to an often overlooked genre among the mainstream. Other people see him as too obnoxious and pretentious - especially his refusal to move with the times. Fans can't decide whether the latter is the IntendedAudienceReaction or not.

* OvershadowedByControversy: Since 2017, the film is best known for being erroneously announced as the Academy Award winner for Best Picture, in which the actual winner was ''Film/{{Moonlight}}''. This caused the film to be known as "the one that didn't ''actually'' win an Oscar", never mind that it actually took home 6 Academy Awards - more than any other picture that night - including Best Director and Best Lead Actress. The mistake was bad enough, but even though the error was caught and the right film recognized, many people were frustrated that the creators of a film centering LGBT characters of color (a rarity for the Academy to honor) had their moment in the spotlight stolen by a film with two white leads centering a genre of music largely created by Black Americans. To this day it's the first thing that comes to mind for many people when discussing the film.

* SugarWiki/DevelopmentHeaven: Creator/RyanGosling had to learn the piano to properly mimic the previously recorded keyboard track, while Music/JohnLegend, who is a pianist in real life, had to learn another instrument as his character plays guitar.

* AndYouThoughtItWouldFail: Damien Chazelle had a hard time getting the movie into production for years because at that time, studios believed it might not sell well because it's an original contemporary musical, the songs are unfamiliar and jazz musical is an extinct genre. Though he was able to find a studio to help him, [[ExecutiveMeddling they proposed several changes]] such as the male lead being a rock musician instead of a jazz pianist. Chazelle had none of that and put the project on hold until the success of his other movie, ''Film/{{Whiplash}}'', which got Summit Entertainment interested enough in ''La La Land'' that they finally got it in production. The movie was a critical success that earned numerous awards and did very well commercially.

* SugarWiki/DevelopmentHeaven: Creator/RyanGosling had to learn the piano to properly mimic the previously recorded keyboard track, while John Legend, who is a pianist in real life, had to learn another instrument as his character plays guitar.

** The scriptwriter’s terrible idea for a Goldilocks and the Three Bears adaptation becomes a lot funnier after Reese Witherspoon’s production company announced that they were developing an animated kids film reimagining of said story.

** The film won the Critic's Choice Award for Best Picture, the American Film Institute's pick for 2016's best films, the most Golden Globe wins in history (seven!), and a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes... so naturally, backlash was bound to happen; the main criticisms being of it being not very revolutionary and veering towards style over substance. It's also received some accusations of racism (due to the feud between the white Sebastian and the black Keith over the future direction of jazz) - though this didn't stop the film from placing fifth on [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/moonlight-named-best-picture-by-african-american-film-critics-association-955250 the African American Film Critics' Association's best of 2016 list]]. ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' even did [[http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/la-la-land-interrogation/3457925?snl=1 a sketch]] about the fans' tendencies to come down like a ton of bricks upon even people who call it SoOkayItsAverage.

** A crossover with ''Franchise/MetalGear'', "La Li Lu Le Lo Land"[[labelnote:explanation]]a common reply by MGS fans every time Kojima talks about this movie[[/labelnote]].

* OneSceneWonder: Creator/JKSimmons only has one scene and a cameo in the ending fantasy... but hey, he's Creator/JKSimmons, and he plays a rather enjoyable MeanBoss.

* SacredCow: As mentioned above, the fans can become so defensive that it was mocked on ''Saturday Night Live'', in a sketch where Aziz Ansari is arrested and treated like a sexual predator for an offhand comment that he liked the movie but thought it had a few flaws.

** The scene of Sebastian and Mia dancing in the observatory, and it segueing into them dancing in the stars. It was parodied quite frequently, most famously at the Golden Globes between Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake.
** The image of Sebastian and Mia dancing during Lovely Night that was used on most movie pictures (including Mia's iconic yellow dress).

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Sebastian, to some viewers who see him as a pretentious, whiny prick. This was even mocked by Creator/RyanGosling himself in his next ''Saturday Night Live'' appearance, where he goes on a cluelessly pretentious monologue about how "a white guy from Canada" saved jazz.

** Keith has become a favorite among viewers who admire him for his sympathetic qualities, given that he shows just as much passion for jazz as Sebastian and believes that it's important to adapt to what younger people are listening to today rather merely save the art in its traditional form.

* AwardSnub: "Start a Fire" arguably should've received the Best Original Song nomination over "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)" even though "City of Stars" was always going to win.

* AwardSnub: "Start a Fire" arguably should've received the Best Original Song nomination over "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)".

* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: A meta one for Damien Chazelle as this film made him the youngest person ever to win the Oscar for Best Director, surpassing Norman Taurog who had held the record since 1931.
* NeverLiveItDown: Since the 2017 Oscars incident, this film will forever be known as "the one that didn't ''actually'' win an Oscar". Never mind that it actually took home 6 Academy Awards - more than any other picture that night - including the Best Director and Best Lead Actress.

* OvershadowedByControversy: Having it be erroneously announced as the Academy Award winner for Best Picture was groan-worthy enough, but even though the error was caught and the right film recognized, many people were frustrated that the creators of a film centering LGBT characters of color (a rarity for the Academy to honor) had their moment in the spotlight stolen by a film with two white leads centering a genre of music largely created by Black Americans. To this day it's the first thing that comes to mind for many people when discussing the film.

* UnfortunateImplications: The film has been criticized for having a [[http://www.mtv.com/news/2965622/la-la-lands-white-jazz-narrative/ white savior narrative]] via Sebastian's plotline of his obsession to save jazz.

** Keith has become a favorite among viewers who admire him for his sympathetic qualities, given that showing just as much passion for jazz as Sebastian and believes that it's important to adapt to what younger people are listening to today rather merely save the art in its traditional form.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Oddly enough, the film's producer Jordan Horowitz got a sizable fan base when he quickly took charge of revealing the Best Picture mix-up and helped the situation to be much less awkward than it could have been despite what had to be a violent storm of emotions that he was going through.

** Many fans of Creator/LinManuelMiranda weren't happy with one of the film's ''two'' Oscar-nominated songs costing him the recognition of the fastest EGOT ever, though others still point out that he's a pretty young guy and has plenty of time to be up for it again.

** A crossover with ''Franchise/MetalGear'', "La Li Lu Le Lo Land"[[labelnote:explanation]]a common reply by MGS fans everytime Kojima talks about this movie[[/labelnote]].

* NeverLiveItDown: Since the 2017 Oscars incident, this film will forever be known as "the one that didn't ''actually'' win an Oscar". Nevermind that it actually took home 6 Academy Awards - more than any other picture that night - including the Best Director and Best Lead Actress.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: At one point, Mia calls Sebastian "George Michael". While meant to be funny, the reference became awkward and unintentionally sad when the real Music/GeorgeMichael passed away just weeks after the film's premiere.

* {{Padding}}: The scene with Sebastian and Mia dancing in the observatory lasts for a really long time and doesn't really contribute anything to the plot. Similarly, Mia's ImagineSpot about how she could have stayed with Sebastian goes on for a while despite the fact it didn't actually happen.

** This film's rivalry with ''Film/Moonlight2016'' becomes this as of 2018, where Damien Chazelle's next film, ''Film/FirstMan'', is '''about''' the ''moon'' landing. For added bonus, Barry Jenkins' next film, ''Film/IfBealeStreetCouldTalk'', has ''jazz'' elements in the original score. Both films were also nominated for several awards at the Oscars, though ironically both received AwardSnub treatments this time.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: The film has a very good Aesop to struggling actors—that you're unlikely to find success if you just wait for the right audition to come to you. Mia takes initiative and puts on a show of her own [[spoiler: that does get the attention of one casting director, which is all she needs to get her big break]].

** The ending oddly parallels the Oscar incident.

* VanillaProtagonist: Aside from the UnfortunateImplications- and UnintentionallyUnsympathetic-related backlash to the main couple's arcs, there are people who think the movie peaked at its opening sequence, "Another Day of Sun." BigLippedAlligatorMoment it may be, but it's a wildly vibrant number—not to mention the vocals and dancing are actually professional-level rather than that of two actors who had to ''learn'' how to sing and dance better for the film, which is one of the most common criticisms anyway.

* OneSceneWonder: Creator/JKSimmons only has one scene and a cameo in the ending fantasy... but hey, he's Creator/JKSimmons.

** This film's rivalry with ''Film/Moonlight2016'' becomes this as of 2018, where Damien Chazelle's next film, ''Film/FirstMan'', is '''about''' the ''moon'' landing. For added bonus, Barry Jenkins' next film,''Film/IfBealeStreetCouldTalk'', has ''jazz'' elements in the original score. Both films were also nominated for several awards at the Oscars, though ironically both received AwardSnub treatments this time.

** This film's rivalry with ''Film/Moonlight2016'' becomes this as of 2018, where Damien Chazelle's next film, ''Film/FirstMan'', is '''about''' the ''moon'' landing. For added bonus, Barry Jenkins' next film, ''Film/IfBealeStreetCouldTalk'', has ''jazz'' elements in the original score.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: The opening number, "Another Day of Sun", has absolutely no bearing on the plot, its style doesn't quite fit the other movies' musical numbers (with some being diegetic, some being fantasy sequences and the rest almost being actual conversations or monologues) and it leads to nothing. Administrivia/TropesAreTools, however; not only do some think it's one of the best scenes in the movie, it functionally establishes the movie as a stylized musical and [[MusicalWorldHypothesis its rules]] (its songs being [[LiteraryAgentHypothesis exaggerated fantasies of "the real"]]), better allowing the audience to suspend their disbelief. There's also a bit of {{foreshadowing}} with [[spoiler:the first singer bringing up how she left her boyfriend behind to get into show business]].

** The opening number "Another Day of Sun" is generally well-regarded due to its complex dance choreography and bittersweet tone.

* SignatureSong: "City of Stars."

* SignatureScene: The scene of Sebastian and Mia dancing in the observatory, and it segueing into them dancing in the stars. It was parodied quite frequently, most famously at the Golden Globes between Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: The film has a very good Aesop to struggling actors - that you're unlikely to find success if you just wait for the right audition to come to you. Mia takes initiative and puts on a show of her own [[spoiler: that does get the attention of one casting director, which is all she needs to get her big break]].

* UnfortunateImplications: The film has been criticized for having a [[http://www.mtv.com/news/2965622/la-la-lands-white-jazz-narrative/ white savior narrative,]] via Sebastian's plotline of his obsession to save jazz.

* VanillaProtagonist: Aside from the UnfortunateImplications- and UnintentionallyUnsympathetic-related backlash to the main couple's arcs, there are people who think the movie peaked at its opening sequence, "Another Day of Sun." BigLippedAlligatorMoment it may be, but it's a wildly vibrant number -- not to mention the vocals and dancing are actually professional-level rather than that of two actors who had to ''learn'' how to sing and dance better for the film, which is one of the most common criticisms anyway.