Thursday, April 13, 2006
TAKE THE LEAD
During the opening shots of Take the Lead, all the main characters are dressing up for a night on the town. The camera jumps from inner-city kids, who are going clubbing, to Antonio Banderas’s character, as he dons tails for ballroom dancing. The dichotomy between the two lifestyles and economic classes is evident throughout this film. The dancing that fills most of the film unites both types of people and creates empathy between all members.
Based on a true story, Take the Lead is a cute, stylish and predictable movie. But what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in compelling dancing and laughs. The always-suave Antonio Banderas plays a refined ballroom dancing instructor who teaches wealthy New Yorkers. One night he encounters a kid vandalizing a car. The following day, he visits the kid’s school to notify the principal. While there, the instructor volunteers to teach ballroom dancing to the kids in detention. Detention is full of students with problems ranging from drug use to physical abuse to prostitution. As the story progresses, the students teach Banderas the meaning of hip-hop and, in return, he teaches them about life. The second half of the film becomes clichéd with stereotypical characters but it is engaging nonetheless.
Banderas gives a solid and buoyant performance, putting his passionate personality to good use. One of the best scenes is when Banderas shows the audience his dancing shoes and he and an advanced student dance a smoldering tango. While the ending is rather implausible, you still will find yourself tapping along with the beats. If you go to this movie just to have fun, you will not be disappointed.
Rated PG-13, 108 minutes
South Wind 12
3 STARS
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