Dance Flick

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: May 22, 2009

DVD Release Date: September 9, 2009

Plot 411: As the title suggests, it's a movie about dancing that spoofs a bunch of teen rom com and dance movies from the past 10+ years.

Review: Thomas (Damon Wayans Jr.) and his crew enter a dance battle only to lose both their pride and money. Sugar Bear (David Alan Grier), a big syndicate-type fellow in the same vein as Jabba the Hut, sends guys after them to collect his money. At school, Thomas meets Megan (Shoshana Bush), whose mom recently died in a car accident and who has come to the ghetto to live with her father. Megan is out of her element but quickly makes friends with Charity (Essence Atkins), Thomas' sister. Despite being a product of the Wayans brothers (and their brood), this movie does not live up to its potential. The gags are all pretty lame, even though there's a diverse selection of movie parodies. Even the dance numbers aren't on par with the original dance flicks out there. The main plot follows Save The Last Dance pretty closely, but it doesn't even do that movie justice. Many of the characters are just plain annoying and not funny at all. Also in this film are Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Kim Wayans and Amy Sedaris.

Watch It: At your own risk. You've already been warned how bad it is.

Skip It: And watch the originals. Those movies are superb works of art compared to this one.

Chicago

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 27, 2002

DVD Release Date: August 19, 2003

Plot 411: After shooting her lover, Roxie reaches for stardom to save her from the gallows.

Review: This musical stars Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart, a 1920s housewife who is having an affair with Fred (Dominic West) to increase her chances of starring in a vaudeville show. When he reveals that he has no connections to showbiz, she kills him. Roxie tries to convince her husband (John C. Reilly) that she's innocent but is put in jail anyway. In the slammer, she meets a real vaudeville star named Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Velma's lawyer Billy (Richard Gere) takes on Roxie's case and both women become newspaper darlings, especially when gossip reporter Mary Sunshine (Christine Baranski) writes up their stories. They fight each other for the front page and celebrity in an effort to become so famous that they can't be executed. They will stop at nothing to make headlines, including falsifying a pregnancy. The musical is a comment on society's unhealthy attraction to fame and how it can cause corruption in the system. I don't think this only applies to the '20s when journalism was pretty unethical anyway. I mean, look at all the tabloids and blogs catering to this type of news nowadays. The individual performances (both singing and dancing) by the cast is amazing. Who knew Richard Gere could sing? My favorite number is definitely Mr. Cellophane by John C. Reilly though. Queen Latifah also has a hand in this film as Mama, Roxie and Velma's warden. They did a really good job of transferring a stage production to film, and I liked how they kept some of the set pieces to make it look like a stage show.

Watch It: For really great singing and dancing numbers. They don't make musicals like this anymore and it makes me long for a musical revival. Bring back the Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire flicks!

Skip It: If musicals aren't your bag of tea because this is fully a musical. There are dream sequences especially so the actors can break into song.

Save The Last Dance

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: January 12, 2001

DVD Release Date: June 19, 2001

Plot 411: When her mother dies, Sarah moves to Chicago's inner city to live with her astranged dad

Review: After failing her ballet audition for Juilliard, Sarah (Julia Stiles) discovers the reason her mother was late was because she died in a car accident. After this blow, Sarah decides to give up dancing and must move to Chicago to live with her father. She enrolls in a predominantly black high school in a gritty area of town. Despite being a fish out of water, she is soon befriended by Chenille (Kerry Washington). Sarah also meets a wise-cracking boy named Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas), who turns out to be Chenille's brother. When Sarah goes to a club called Stepps, she encounters hip hop for the first time and realizes that there is more to dance than her classical education has taught her. She also encounters Derek's ex-girlfriend Nikki (Bianca Lawson) and the drama begins. Nikki is trying to win Derek back and sees Sarah as a threat. However, as Derek teaches Sarah hip hop dancing, they grow closer and fall in love. When Derek and is friend Malakai (Fredro Starr) are targets of a drive-by shooting, Malakai wants to take revenge. Derek is torn between helping his friend and looking toward his future. When this movie came out, I was thoroughly entralled by it like most teens. It had a good love story, great music and dancing, action and drama. It felt as though the underdog would prevail despite all obstacles. Now that I'm older, I can see it for what it is. It's a fairly average movie of this type and kind of predictable. I think it did a good job at appealing to its demographic when it was released but don't think it is anything special. The idea that opposites attract is definitely not new and have already been captured on film in Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, Dirty Dancing or Step Up.

Watch It: For a notable performance by Julia Stiles, who was just breaking out at that time.

Skip It: In favor of West Side Story, which contains much of the same plot points.

Take The Lead

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: April 7, 2006

DVD Release Date: August 29, 2006

Plot 411: A ballroom dancing teacher takes a bunch of detention kids and whips them into dancing machines.

Review: This is one of those movies based on a true story about a teacher with good intentions who takes a bunch of underachieving kids and makes something of them. Based on this premise, I'd say this isn't the best movie of that genre. However, if you're into dance, then this might be up your alley. Antonio Banderas plays Pierre Dulaine, a ballroom dance instructor who falls into the job of supervising a class of students sentenced to detention for the entire year. They see themselves as losers and are not disillusioned by this title. Dulaine tries to inspire them through classical dancing and prep them for an upcoming competition. After a lot of effort by Dulaine and the students, they begin to work together rather than fight one another. They face many challenges but continue to practice and learn to blend their style of hip hop with classical dance. This movie covers themes like gang violence, poverty, the educational system, self-esteem, goals and accepting change. Rob Brown, Alfrie Woodard, Dante Basco and Jenna Dewan also star in in in this film.

Watch It: If you're a die hard dance fan.

Skip It: Banderas' bad attempt at being "hip." It's just awkward all around.

Shall We Dansu? / Shall We Dance?

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: January 27, 1996 (Japan) / July 11, 1997 (USA)

DVD Release Date: February 1, 2005

Plot 411: A Japanese accountant takes dance lessons to meet a girl he sees from the train but discovers a whole new world.

Review: This movie was recommended back in January in a comment to my review of the 1937 Shall We Dance? I finally got a chance to watch this movie and thought it was great. The plot is completely different from the 1937 version though. There was a remake of this 1996 Japanese version in 2004 with Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon. The movie is about a guy who basically is a walking zombie. Despite achieving all that he desired, he still feels unfulfilled. On his way home every night, he sees a beautiful but extremely sad woman looking out of her dance studio window. He wants to meet her and finally gets the courage to go to the studio. He signs up for lessons so he can be near her (like many other students do), but when she calls him on it he decides to prove her wrong by continuing to dance. As he struggles to learn, he discovers that he is really passionate about it and it revitalizes him. Between the 1996 and the 2004 versions, I prefer the 1996 Japanese take on things. I think there's more of a personal struggle when the plot is set in the Japanese culture. It is more rigid and conforming in Japan than it is in America so it's a bigger deal for a man to break social and cultural tradition there.

Watch It: For a story about self-discovery and self-fulfillment.

Skip It: If you're looking for a lot of dancing. There's some but they aren't huge numbers like in the 1937 movie.

Trailer:

Planet B-Boy

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: March 21, 2008

DVD Release Date: November 11, 2008

Plot 411: A documentary about the b-boy lifestyle and crews across the globe as they compete toward Battle of the Year.

Review: This was an awesome doc as it showcased a lifestyle that many people don't get to see. I liked how it defined what a b-boy is, how they came about and separated real b-boys from posers. Tied into hip hop, b-boy culture is intriguingly unique. The people are passionate about dancing, devoted to the crew and think more about the whole than the individual. While there are tons of tricks and deadly technique throughout the film, it also shows us the artistry and how the culture has permeated to all parts of the world. Like most things hip hop, it's not about the money or fame (although, this is a definite boon to those who life in poverty), it is about being able to express individualism and creativity while still being part of a group. It's about pride and honor. It's actually pretty deep when you stop and think about it - almost religious even.

Watch It: If you enjoy America's Best Dance Crew because while you get to see the Hollywoodized version on MTV, I think this is the real deal, heart and soul of the b-boy culture.

Skip It: If you don't have an open mind. While the subject matter may appeal more to a younger audience, I think an older audience would actually benefit more by watching this. It'll help explain the difference in world views that separate the generations.

Trailer:

Shall We Dance

Rated: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: May 7, 1937

DVD Release Date: August 16, 2005

Plot 411: The lives of two dancers get turned upside down when the press begins to circulate rumors that they are married.

Review: I'm a sucker for dance movies no matter how long ago they were made. Throw in a little singing and I'm in heaven. This movie served up both with great enthusiasm. Somehow you just can't beat the Golden Era of movie making. I do believe this was the first Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers film I ever watched. I've seen a bunch of Gene Kelly films though and I think I like his dance style better. Despite that, this was a fun movie to watch. There is humor throughout and the convoluted relationship that Astaire and Rodgers have make for some hysterical scenes.

Watch It: If you're not afraid of being called "twinkle toes."

Skip It: If you think all male dancers are gay.

Movie Clip: