'Dance' predictable and stagy but offers bright spots

THE DANCE — ** 1/2 — Scott Christopher, KC Clyde, Michael Flynn; rated PG (violence, brief drugs, mild profanity).

"The Dance" is surely the most accomplished LDS film since the "Work and the Glory" pictures.

This locally produced comedy-drama is competently shot, pretty well-acted and has the sense to know when to say when. At 81 minutes — a running time that is shorter than most kids films today — it certainly doesn't overstay its welcome.

However, the material is overly familiar, even predictable, despite its laudable message about communication and honesty between couples. Also, it never quite overcomes its stagy feel (based on Caroline Pearson's stage play of the same title).

The story is set in Massachusetts at Harvard University. As promised by the title, there is a dance — an extracurricular event that's been organized by English literature professor Charles Gordon (Michael Flynn, who also produced).

One of his star students is amateur pugilist and would-be writer Cameron (KC Clyde), who is planning to go to the dance to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. So he's invited a friend to go with him, his brother's ex, Zoe (Kari Hawker).

The evening's emcee is Howard (Scott Christopher), an obsessive and somewhat outspoken day-trader who's already neglecting and possibly offending his date, single mother Alyson (Monique Lanier). The latter story line turns out to be the best.

As he did in 2003's "The Best Two Years," Christopher proves he can be tolerable, even likable, when he's not clowning too much or being too goofy. And he's well-matched with Lanier.

Clyde's character is a little underwritten and underdeveloped, though it's interesting to see him performing a more physical role than we've seen him do before. Also, it is fun to see veteran Utah actor Flynn reading Shakespeare at one point (he's got the perfect voice for it).

Unfortunately, there's also a subplot about a clueless dance DJ (Frank Gerrish) that is just not funny and drags the film down a bit, something that should be been cut down a bit by screenwriter/director McKay Daines.

"The Dance" is rated PG for some brief violence (fisticuffs and brawling), brief drug references (hallucinogenics), and scattered mild profanity (religion-based). Running time: 81 minutes.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com