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 MAD
HOT BALLROOM
by Jane Louise
Boursaw
Rated PG
for some thematic elements. 105 minutes. Directed by Marilyn Agrelo.
Written by Amy Sewell. Released in theaters May 13, 2005 (wide release).
Remember when you were in the fifth grade? Adjectives like gawky,
self-conscious, and shy spring to mind. Now imagine learning the rumba,
tango and foxtrot at that age – and actually touching and standing close
to a kid of the opposite sex. Yikes!
That’s what makes this movie so special. It takes a bunch of
11-year-old kids in the New York City public school system and shows
them getting excited about something as un-cool as ballroom dancing. I
mean, let’s face it. When you’re 11, doing the tango probably ranks
right up there with going underwear shopping with your mom.
We
see these kids learn how to ballroom dance (sponsored by the American
Ballroom Theater Dancing Classrooms), then vie for positions in a
city-wide competition where the winning team takes home a giant trophy.
It’s amazing to see the transformation of these kids, many of whom would
otherwise be headed for drugs and street gangs. And can they dance!
THE WRAP-UP: By the end of this movie, I just had
this goofy smile on my face that wouldn’t go away (not that I wanted it
to). It made me want to take up ballroom dancing (and hey, if these kids
can get into it, maybe there’s hope for my motorcycle-lovin’ husband). I
didn’t take my kids with me, but I think they would have liked it
(although Will would have denied it). See this movie. You’ll be glad you
did.
SCORE: 4 out of 4
Reels.
Jane's Reel Rating
System:
One Reel – Pathetic.
Even The Force can’t save it.
Two Reels –
Tolerable. Coulda been a contender.
Three Reels –
Pleasant. Something to talk about.
Four Reels – Wow! The
stuff dreams are made of.
E-chat with me
at
jane@reellifewithjane.com - I
LOVE to talk about movies!
 Read my other reviews
here.
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