Take the Lead
- In theaters April 7th 2006
- Rated PG-13 for thematic material, language and
some
violence
- Matt's rating - 2 out of 5 stars
COMPLETE REVIEW BELOW
All Photos: ©2006 Kerry Hayes / New Line Productions
Interview clips.
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The onslaught of ballroom dancing themed
entertainment continues with New Line Pictures, Take
the Lead. Inspired, though lightly, by true
happenings, Take the Lead attempts to dance into
the heart of the inner city like a knight in shining
nucbucks. But unfortunately this film has two left
feet. Ok, maybe not two left feet but they were
definitely stepping on my toes in too many places.
And let me tell you why that is a shame.
Take the Lead sort of tells the story of a guy who
wanted to do something positive and change the
lives of some disadvantaged kids. And he has done
that. In a profound way. That man is Pierre Dulaine.
The real Pierre teaches ballroom dancing in the New
York public schools to elementary kids. He uses this
to instill in them confidence, elegance, courtesy and
style. His curriculum has spread to other school
systems and people are seeing the marvelous effect
it has on kids who might otherwise be overlooked and
forgotten. Pierre has numerous success stories that
will touch your heart. Too bad none of them are in
THIS movie.
The powers that be at New Line thought it would be
a nifty idea to, instead of using these powerful
testimonies, create their own fictional accounts of
what would happen if this took place with high school
students instead of elementary kids. Something that
Pierre has yet to do. So what you get is an attempt
to create kids that you can pull for and then are left
with thin story lines and huge plot gaps. Antonio
Banderas was cast to play Dulaine in Take the Lead.
Not a bad choice since Banderas certainly has the
ability to bring the power of dance plus has some of
the same passions and energies as the real Pierre.
Certain events bring Dulaine to a rough neighborhood
high school where he volunteers to teach detention if
he can incorporate ballroom dance into the lives of
the kids who are there. He is met with negative
response and lack of support from the school's
principal (Alfre Woodard) and other faculty.
The teens as well are less than excited about having
this graceful well-mannered gentleman try and push
upon them his music and mindset. These are kids
from bad neighborhoods who have never been given
hope and Pierre wants to do that. I wish the
filmmakers could have done the same. I felt no
chemistry or character development with any of
them. Sure it is about the dancing and there are a
few scenes where they are allowed to shine. But the
main theme is lost in gaping holes. When the
detention-ers get a chance to compete in the area
highbrow ballroom dance tournament they finally
decide to give it a shot and show what they are
made of.
As I mentioned I wanted this film to be amazing
because of Dulaine's work and the positive theme of
respect and personal achievement that he brings. But
I am afraid it will be over shadowed by a very bad
movie. I hope I am wrong. When talking to the lead
actress, Yaya DaCosta, I voiced my concern that the
right kids wouldn't get a chance to see this film. The
kids who need to know they can amount to
something. The real inner-city youth. She assured me
they would. I pray she is correct.
Take the Lead is rated PG-13 for thematic material,
language and some violence. It is a fairly tame movie
with the only real concern being the language. I can
only give it 2 out of 5 tangos. My suggestion is for
you to go watch Mad Hot Ballroom, the true to life
documentary on this subject. Those kids will move
you like this movie wanted to but failed. With a look
at Take the Lead, I'm Matt Mungle
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