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n Take the Lead, Antonio Banderas is a dancer who cares about high school kids . . . perhaps his most feminine role since playing the groom in Melanie Griffith’s wedding.
Based on a true story, Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) is a ballroom dance teacher and is in the wrong place at the wrong time one night when he witnesses some kids vandalizing a car. He discovers the owner is a high school principal (Alfre Woodard) in the inner city. When he realizes the vandals attend that school, he decides to offer help instead of turning the kids in. Desperate for someone to monitor detention, the principal relents and assigns him to supervise the unruly kids. He decides what the kids need is to learn to dance. Extremely reluctant, the kids refuse until Mr. Dulaine uses some pretty effective methods of persuasion. To inspire them, he enters them into a dance contest against some very talented dancers. The kids infuse their culture into the traditional dances and take on the professionals. The journey teaches them more than dance but how to respect each other, that hard work can pay off and that their futures are full of possibilities if they just take the lead.
Antonio Banderas is neither the best actor nor the best dancer in the world, but his likeability and charm make him a compelling and entertaining character in Take the Lead. However, the movie’s real appeal is the inspiring true story on which it’s based. Sure, the student characters and the movie's depiction of the "hood" all seem too stereotypical and unrealistic at times; and, the plot is fairly classic and predictable. But, the noble concept makes it all work. It’s an entertaining experience . . . a "feel good" movie that hit the mark.
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On the Movie Night Traffic Light on a scale of GREEN meaning “Go – it’s a must see”, YELLOW meaning “Caution – it’s okay” and RED meaning “No - stop don’t do it."
We rate Take the Lead YELLOW. Caution – not the best movie, but the dancing is fun to see. |
