Movie Review:

Take the Lead

by Lynn B

Guess what? Detention isn’t like it is for the kids in the classic film The Breakfast Club. For the teens in Take the Lead, it’s just being left in a dingy inner city school basement until Antonio Banderas comes along to stir things up….

In New York City, successful ballroom dance instructor Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) witnesses a young man angrily bashing up a car and decides that his own joy of dance might give kids something to do with all that energy. He volunteers to teach in an inner city school. The only class that principal Agustine James (Alfre Woodard) will trust him with is the detention group who are basically just left to fend for themselves in the school basement.

At first, of course, the teens totally won’t cooperate with Dulaine until he shows them that ballroom dance can be just as hot as hip hop. Teaching that having a dance partner means learning to trust, he is able to bring together the teens Rock (Rob Brown) and LaRhette (Yaya DaCosta) who hate each other because one’s brother killed the other’s bro. All the kids find that this new way of dancing can help them take charge of their lives, have pride and overcome the dark shadows they face daily.

Combining the teens’ hip hop styles with ballroom moves launches a whole new love of dance in the detention hall and also breathes some life into the local overly-disciplined ballroom dance competition the students enter.

Antonio Banderas can move on a dance floor with charisma and flair. I can’t picture any actor in the world doing this part except him. No wonder he gets the attention of the kids he teaches in the film. Based on a true story (although Dulaine’s real students were younger kids) Take the Lead isn’t a stuffy movie at all. By the end, you’ll probably decide that ballroom can rock! The enthusiastic dancing will win you over.

Director Liz Friedlander, who shot videos for U2 and Blink 182, knows how to move a camera and the fusion of classic dances with hip hop moves is a blast to watch. The real Pierre Dulaine co-choreographed with Rich and Tone Talauega who really know how to bust a move and the result is completely watchable. The soundtrack is great as well. Banderas doing the tango with Katya Virshilas makes you want to run sign up for the nearest Tango lesson. They are wicked hot! Ex- “America’s Next Top Model” contestant Yaya DaCosta proves she has acting chops that match her beauty as well.

Sure, the basic story is kind of “been there, seen that” as the kids face their inner city demons but, by the end, you’ll be with them all the way as they show the stuffy country club set how to get down with style, grace and passion! This is a great date film or take-the-whole-family experience.

 

This movie is rated PG-13

Official Movie Web Site - Take The Lead

Pictures courtesy of and copyright New Line Cinema, 2006