From Deseret News archives:
Take the Lead
Film review
"Take the Lead" was clearly inspired by "Mad Hot Ballroom," the charming 2004 documentary about a program that teaches New York City public school students how to ballroom dance. But it also has a lot in common with "Stand and Deliver" and "Dangerous Minds," two dramas about teachers using unconventional methods to reach inner-city teens.
"Lead" is certainly not as rousing as "Stand," and at times the plotting is sillier than "Dangerous."
What redeems this film somewhat are its plentiful dancing scenes and a charismatic lead performance by Antonio Banderas as Pierre Dulaine, a former professional dancer.
When he witnesses a teen vandalizing a car in a school parking lot, Pierre becomes concerned and decides to volunteer his services as a dance instructor at the school. To his surprise, the principal (Alfre Woodard) agrees to the plan and assigns him to look after students who are serving detention. Of course, she also expects him to quit after one day.
Screenwriter Dianne Houston's plotting is conventional and predictable, and the story is a little heavy on characters and subplots one of which examines Rock's adversarial relationship with LaRhette (Yaya DaCosta), another student who blames Rock's family for the death of her brother.
First-time filmmaker Liz Friedlander's slick direction betrays her music-video roots, but the style does fit the dance scenes, which were choreographed by JoAnn Fregalette Jansen.
And she has a very appealing cast. Banderas is appropriately low-key (he also clearly demonstrates his dancing skills), and Brown ("Coach Carter") helps flesh out a character that could have been merely one-note.
"Take the Lead" is rated PG-13 for occasional use of strong profanity, racial epithets and crude slang terms, some sexually suggestive dance moves, violence (some gunplay and an act of vandalism), and some brief drug content (mostly references). Running time: 115 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Recent comments
The part of the movie with the kindergartner suggesting to
his...
NotJeffVice | Aug. 19, 2005 at 9:59 a.m.
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Alfre Woodard
Find a Movie Theater
- Bengals turn back defending 4A champs 10:57 p.m.
- BYU looks to improve rebounding 10:37 p.m.
- Utahns growing tired of Bennett 10:36 p.m.
- More depression, STDs in minorities 10:32 p.m.
- Utah population tops 2.8M 10:31 p.m.
- Obama: 'Our security is at stake' 10:29 p.m.
- Laid-off Utahns could lose coverage 10:22 p.m.
- Water year off to dry start 10:21 p.m.
- Philpot may run for Congress 10:20 p.m.
- Correction: Governor's Mansion tour 10:20 p.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
- 'Grandfamilies' a growing trend
- Witness: Mitchell wanted attention
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- MWC '09 season in review
- Jazz win 6th in 7 games
- Jazz ready to be without Harpring
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
904 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
482 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
401 - Max Hall issues apology
387 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
347 - Utes won't respond to Hall
275 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
236 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
161 - BYU is champion of the state
143 - Religion in politics is tiresome
128
How can the polls mean anything at this point if the season? It will...
My wife and I went to see The Blind Side the other day and we saw the very...
killer at home, have a great coach, will be tough to beat with all our tools....
Adoption agencies have to do this to keep afloat. There is often a division...
31% of the board voted for the other guy. Looks like Brems won.
Max will be remembered in one of two ways...some will remember him for being...
like i said delgado do work on wasatch!!!
Thank God my wife is Japanese and we can return to Japan and participate in...
I have followed the Utah/BYU rivalry since I was a boy back in the 1950s....
If BYU chokes all of it's marquis games, then explain to me how these schools...




