Excellent dance film a throwback

SKG-2

The old dance films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and Gene Kelly, may have been a technical marvel, but they also understood that dancing was a form of communication, of things left unsaid.  This film fits right in with that tradition, though of course it's using more modern dances, but I think Astaire would look at the chemistry between Chayanne and Williams when they're dancing, and approve.  You can tell director Randa Haines is a fan of the dancing the way she lovingly photographs it, and gives all the dancers a chance to shine, especially during the long dance scene at the club.  She's also the first director who really gives Williams a chance to cut loose and show her talent.  I don't know much about Chayanne, but he's good too.

So the plot isn't much.  Who watches musicals just for the plot?  And actually, I liked how they handled certain aspects, like the dance competition and how Chayanne and Williams resolve their feelings for one another without even dancing together.  The only real criticism I have is the movie is a little too long, but that's only a quibble.

score 9/10

SKG-2 15 February 1999

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0441598/