dance movies are so uneven!
 

I like a good dance movie sometimes. I approve of dancing in all forms as one of the highest of human endeavors. And I love to shake it! but finding a good dance movie can be tricky.

although the current crop of dance movies probably have been influenced most by "Dirty Dancing," there have been dance movies since the beginning of film, I'm guessing. Fred Astaire is a dream to watch. Even Shirley Temple wouldn't be who she was without her extraordinary talent for tap dancing. And then there are the musicals . . .

Anyway, some of the newer ones are pretty good, and others are just abysmal. And you can't always tell which are which in the videostore. I'm not an expert, or a critic! But --

recommended
"Shall We Dance:" Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez in a romantic comedy. Very sweet, and they dance a tango that's awesome

"Take the Lead": with Antonio Banderas playing the real-life dance teacher Pierre Dulaine, who teaches inner city kids ballroom dance

"Save the Lance Dance,": Julia Stiles, which is pretty much all you need to know here, 'cause I think I'd watch her in almost anything. There actually seems to be some chemistry with her co-star, a critical element missing in the non-recommeded flicks.

take your chances
I've seen a fair number of mediocre-to-bad other films, the titles of which mercifully have drifted out of my memory. I've seen latin themed ones, one or two of which are not bad. I've seen black university themed ones, "Drumline," and "Stomp the Yard" most notably. The actual dancing is fascinating, the subplots . . . well.

I predict more dance movies, with the popularity of ballroom dancing now on tv, too.

The only dance movie I have ever liked was an Australian ballroom one, can't think of the name. All the others are vacuous and trite.
An Antonio dance flick... I'll try it, but I doubt it.

well, I like dancing, so I'm willing to forgive a little vacuous and triteness. Just not truckloads of it, with crappy acting, no chemistry, and untalented dancing.

Mad Hot Ballroom was awesome!

Dance movies are like porn flicks, in the sense that any dialog or attempt at a plot is really just thin, connective tissue that bridges the time between the action sequences.

I'll have to check it out, thanks.

There is never an excuse for bad acting.

I agree, but they can sometimes be elevated by artistry or the acting or the chemistry between the stars. Not often enough, unfortunately.

Was the Australian flick called Strictly Ballroom? Has to be fifteen years old, isn't it? I guess I could check IMDB for that and The Mambo Kings with Banderas and Julia. I liked both of those films, but am a dancer myself.

I loved Fred Astaire movies, but they weren't brilliantly acted or scripted. Direction was usually good for the era and the technology. It was his dancing and choreography that shone. He had a pre Sinatra drag to his timing that added fantastic allure to even the basic steps.

I agree that there will be more movies featuring dancing because of the success of Dancing with the Stars. At least the public is getting more educated in very superficial way on ballroom dancing.

I think we can all agree that King Leonidas is one of the best dancers around...
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f8...n/damme300.gif

"Tap" with the late, great Gregory Hines and a dozen or so of the greatest tap performers of the 20th Century. Enchanting.

"Strictly Ballroom", and it was awesome.