It's February and it's snowy and dreary. So to get you up on your feet we've created a list of fun dance movies. From Mamma to Hamilton, we've got all you need to get your groove on and boogie your blues away during DANCE MONTH!
Bring It On
N/A
It's the Rancho Carne Toros versus the East Compton Clovers. Our favourite cheerleader Torrance, played by Kirsten Dunst, leads us in this cheerleading comedy that is full of catchy cheers, iconic lines and a cute romance. The film also stars Eliza Dushku and Gabrielle Union, who similarly bring greatness to the screen. Bring It On (2000) has become a cult classic and has built a legacy, with numerous sequels. While a majority of them are not as good as the original (Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006) comes close to surpassing) they each have that fun, spunky energy that Bring It On (2000) radiates. Bring It On (2000) really brought it (wink wink) 22 years ago and continues to do so every time you rewatch it (which you should be doing). From the catchy opening cheer in the dream sequence that you cannot help but have memorized, to the iconic “bring it!” line that the sequels consistently recreate. If you have not yet seen this film, you must check it out and watch the sequels afterward. This is not a democracy, it's a cheer-ocracy, so go check it out! In my personal opinion, as sequels, Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006) and Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (2009) are the best out of the bunch.
- Thalia
Footloose
Prime Video
Another month, another musical. I am a *big* musical fan and the first thing I say in every musical review I have done thus far is: movie musicals are an acquired taste, so if you haven’t liked a previous movie musical you will probably not like this one either. Now there are obviously exceptions but I don’t think Footloose (2011) is one of them. For this month, I reviewed the newer version of the musical (although there is an 80’s version as well that I will probably check out).
The film takes place primarily in Bomont, Georgia. A small, religious town that has banned unsupervised dancing after a tragic accident took the lives of four highschool teens. Our main protagonist, Ren McCormack, has moved to this town after his mother’s death to live with his aunt and uncle. He meets the rebellious Ariel (the love interest), the daughter of the Reverend and sister of one of the teens who lost their lives. He also meets Willard and they quickly become friends. Together they deal with their teenage problems while they try to return dancing to the town.
Overall this is an average movie musical. I have some nostalgic feelings about it as it was a favourite of mine as a kid. Now as an adult, I can admit it has flaws while still enjoying the general fun of the music and dances. Overall an enjoyable experience and a good movie to enjoy during “Dance Month”
- Stacy
Hairspray
Netflix
Hairspray (2007) is about Tracy Turnblad, a teenage girl living in Baltimore, who is obsessed with the fictional Corny Collins Show, a dance T.V. program featuring local youths. When open auditions are held to replace one of the teenage dancers featured on the show, Tracy decides to try out. She is rejected at the audition but is later spotted at a dance by Corny Collins, who requests that she be put on air. However, when Tracy finds out that the show’s monthly “Negro Day” has been cancelled, she risks being fired from the program by suggesting to the former “Negro Day” host and dancers that they march on the T.V. station demanding integration and equality. And this story is pretty interesting, and there’s a lot about how Hairspray tells it that I really like. John Travolta in drag as Tracy’s mother, Edna, is fantastic. The thick Baltimore accent that Travolta puts on really helps sell the character. I also really like the music. It is extremely polished, and has lyrics that can be quite witty and funny (e.g. “and if they try to stop us, Seaweed, we’ll call the N double ACP”). And although I like these things about the film, the movie does encounter issues when depicting segregation and the civil rights movement. It is obviously on the right side of history, but the fact that Tracy is the catalyst for so much of the film’s anti-racist rhetoric, being the one to suggest and lead the protest against the T.V. station’s segregationist policies, lends the film a “white-saviour” feeling that can be a little cringe-worthy. Still the songs are good, and its positive message about succeeding despite challenges is uplifting, and so, in my mind, the film is enjoyable despite the fact that it doesn’t deal with some of its material in the most considerate and tactful way. Nikki Blonsky is Tracy Turnblad; James Marsden is Corny Collins; Queen Latifah is “Motormouth” Maybelle Stubbs. Directed by Adam Shankman.
- Gabe
Hamilton
Disney+
What can I say about Hamilton (2015) that hasn’t already been said?
I’ve been behind everyone else on the hype as I never even listened to Hamilton or Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music until 2020 when Disney+ acquired the proshot. Now I listen to the soundtrack on a regular basis. If you still haven’t watched the musical but like Encanto (2022) then I recommend taking a look at this musical. If you like history, like musicals and/or like rap, the same thing applies. Miranda has a very distinct musical style and there are plenty of people who just simply don’t vibe with the type of music Miranda produces. However, I’m a huge fan. In terms of the musical specifically, although it is not completely historically accurate, it's still a very enjoyable watch and close enough to history that American history fans won’t be too bothered.
Overall, I have fun watching this musical every time even if it’s a tad long. I love the characters, the songs and the rhythm of the whole show. The actors (at least in the proshot) have amazing chemistry with each other and making the characters so much more entertaining. I would recommend this to anyone who thinks it might be up their alley.
- Stacy
Mamma Mia
Netflix
Watching Mamma Mia (2008) was like watching one massive ABBA music video, and I loved it. Taking place on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, Mamma Mia is about Sophie, a young woman who is getting married and wants her father to walk her down the aisle. The only problem is that she doesn’t know who her father is. From reading her mother’s diary, she knows that there are three men who it could possibly be: Architect Sam Carmichael, Author Bill Anderson, and Banker Harry Bright. And so she invites these men to the wedding, hiding them in her mother’s “old goat house” and hoping that she will be able to intuit which one is her dad. Sophie’s mother, Donna, finds out that her former paramours are on the island and, dismayed by her discovery, asks them to leave. Things soon spiral out of control with Sophie being unable to identify which of the men is her father, and with Donna becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the three men’s continued presence on the island. And truthfully, this story is thin, it is compelling insofar as it keeps the film moving forward but really, the whole movie is just a vehicle for celebrities to goof off to ABBA songs. You get to see Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, and Stellan Skarsgård decked out in full 70s gear at one point. And you get to see Meryl Streep and company dressed up in Disco attire while singing songs like “Super Trouper” and “Waterloo”. And this, to me, merits giving the film a watch; it’s a silly romp accompanied by some fantastic ABBA songs. Meryl Streep is Donna; Amanda Seyfried is Sophie; Pierce Brosnan is Sam Carmichael; Stellan Skarsgård is Bill Anderson; Colin Firth is Harry Bright. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd.
- Gabe
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