Take the Lead
Screenplay written by:
 Diane Houston
Actors: Anthony Banderas, Alfre Woodward, Rob Brown, Dante
Basco, Lyriq Bent, Brandon Andrews, Shawand McKenzie
Directed by: Liz Friedlander
Rated: PG-13 (Thematic material, violence and some language)
Take the Lead
Screenplay written by: Â Diane Houston
Actors: Anthony Banderas, Alfre Woodward, Rob Brown, Dante Basco, Lyriq Bent, Brandon Andrews, Shawand McKenzie
Directed by: Liz Friedlander
Rated: PG-13 (Thematic material, violence and some language)
Pierre Dulaine (Anthony Banderas) is a charming classical ballroom dance instructor in New York City who happens upon an act of vicious vandalism to an inner-city public high school principal’s car by a youth goaded into the act by street thugs. Visiting the hardened principal (Alfre Woodard) of the dangerous school of disadvantaged teenagers he discovers that her priorities have been reduced to just hoping her students stay alive instead of addressing their educational needs.
Observing the complete absence of mutual respect by the students, principal, and faculty, he senses that he can make a significant difference in all of their lives, and volunteers his services as a dance instructor. Plagued with much bigger issues, the overwhelmed principal takes him up on this ludicrous offer, assigning him to the most hardened teens relegated daily to the basement detention area.Â
He Said:
If this story wasn’t inspired by a real person and true events, I don’t think it would have had the same level of interest for me. In spite of all the entertaining dance moves, this was no “Forever Tango” even though Banderas was low-key and full of the Latino suave that he always brings to the screen. It helped to balance out the trite script and overacting by most of the others in the cast. Amazingly, somehow, the formulaic story held my attention for the entirely predictable 108 minutes and I would bet that teens would particularly enjoy this film that had some sad truths and good themes throughout. If I rate it for the targeted audience it was intended for, it was an above average film entertainment experience.
On the R&R Scale (1-10):
6 for script: Good reminders and depressing truths.
6 for direction: Un-sugarcoated helped empathy, but close-ups could have been more revealing.
6 for acting: Some natural, most so-so.
6 for plot: No twists.
6 for entertainment value: Will appeal to some teens and adults looking for light entertainment.
6.0 overall
She Said:
Easy to watch, I had fun at times in the escapism of transferring myself to another place and imagining myself as a dancing teenager again despite rediscovering feelings of the angst of peer pressure and critique. However, consider the source: I love to dance and watch dancing, so I was riveted at times. Moreover, it certainly did not hurt that I got to watch the magnetic ever-so-handsome and debonair Anthony Banderas in nearly every shot.
While “Take the Lead” had few surprises and almost every cliche it could muster, it peeled back the crusty top layer of hardened delinquents revealing both the sad reasons for their plight that most of us can hardly imagine and the window of hope that can be opened by the right motivations. The alternately brutal and tender messaging was good; the acting (except for Banderas) was almost amateurish. Still, “Take the Lead” managed to entertain the predominantly youthful audience based upon their reactions at times.
On the R&R Scale (1-10):
6 for script: Good lines of wisdom offset by teleplay dialogue.
7 for direction: She caught the moves and some surface emotion.
7 for acting: Banderas 7, others 5 or 4.
6 for plot: A seed for an after school T.V. series- again?.
7 for entertainment value: For those who usually feel the music.
6.6 overall
