Take the Lead

Take the Lead (Antonio Banderas, Alfre Woodard, Rob Brown) – If Save the Last Dance met Strictly Ballroom, you’d have this movie.  Antonio Banderas is perfectly cast as the dancer/teacher of a misfit group of inner city kids who think of ballroom dancing as something akin to “square” dancing.  Alfre Woodard plays the same principal she played in Radio (why doesn’t she get real parts?), at first skeptical of the teacher’s efforts to bring ballroom into the classroom, then ultimately its sponsor.  Rob Brown (Finding Forrester) plays the conscientious objector who eventually becomes the Fred Astaire of the ballroom, but not before we get to see talented kids become the amazing artists of the dance floor.  It’s all very predictable, but harmless enough. It’s uplifting, heartwarming and hopeful.  It’s full of stereotypes.  But it has good music, good acting, and good outcomes.  That makes for a palatable piece of pop culture with a touch of tonal antiquity.  Try it out.