When a film receives as much pre-release hype as La La Land did, the excitement of experiencing the spectacle begins to mingle with a fear that it will not be all that you hoped it would be. Damien Chazelle's ode to the golden age of cinema, however, lives up to expectations.

It takes the form of a musical set in the dream-filled streets of Los Angeles, and tells the tale of aspiring actress Mia (played by Emma Stone) and hopeful jazz pianist, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling). The pair help each other to reach for the stars, and in doing so fall in love. Unfortunately, however, there is a fork in the road that leads to success and happiness, and Mia and Sebastian are forced to make harsh compromises to get what they want.

Right from the sunny, upbeat off, La La Land will sweep you off your feet. One minute you will be buzzing with the explosive, electric atmosphere of a dingy jazz club; the next, you will be hopelessly wound up in heady romance, floating on a gorgeous cloud in the orange, pink and lilac of a Californian sunset. You will have the lights of LA in your eyes, music in your toes, and an ache in your cheeks because of your silly grin. The fast-paced story is matched in excitement by the vibrant cinematography by Linus Sandgren; and the often funny script flows naturally from the mouths of Stone and Gosling, whose chemistry sparkles, whether they are dancing, singing together at the piano, or conversing. It is also pleasant to watch two complex characters – doubting and encouraging, considerate and selfish, loving and cruel – in a film which could be so superficial.

All that I did  not like about La La Land happens in the final part of the film. Right at the last minute, the story denies the audience what they want. However, despite initial disappointment, I found myself accepting the ending as what needed to happen. This acceptance does not come immediately. I left the cinema feeling annoyed with Chazelle, in the same way a child who is not allowed to stay up on a school night might be annoyed with his parents. It comes eventually, though, thanks to the film's show-stopping wisdom and maturity. But after all that, at least we are left with the memories of Mia and Sebastian's glory days, and the glory days are what La La Land is all about.