right DaCosta plays LaRhette, a sassy girl from the hood whose life changes when she discovers the wonders and thrill of ballroom dancing. The legendary Alfre Woodard (Desperate Housewives, Crooklyn) plays the stubborn school principal who has lost faith in her students.
Although the film has a good heart and a positive underlying message of how children are positively affected when art programs are implemented in their daily lives, there are some offbeat failures skipping throughout the entire movie.
The most strikingly and laughable failure is the urbanization of the teens, portrayed with over-the-top hood accents, pimp strolls and love for the “soulful” rhythms of hip hop. In addition, the teens happen to be a rainbow of ethnic and racial groups resembling a trite, contrived United Colors of Benetton ad. One cannot help but wonder, what poverty stricken school in New York City has the perfect diversity of white, black, Latino and Asians? Also, if there is such a school, would all of the students be these carbon copy, hip hop cut outs of keeping it “hood”?
With its soon-to-be-canceled-UPN-sitcom-like comedy, the film often times shucks and jives through ethnic jokes, endless dancing, prostitution and even a shoot out (that loses all ethnic diversity and is completely African-American).
Despite the plot flaws, Banderas gives an enjoyable performance, Woodard is talented enough to make any script work and DaCosta has an interesting presence on the screen. Anyone who is aware of America’s Next Top Model will have all eyes on DaCosta questioning if she can possibly top the success of Tocarra or Eva, who are the only Top Model offspring who have managed to stay in the limelight. Nonetheless, this is not the film to catapult DaCosta’s career, but hopefully it will create a strong buzz about her obvious skills on the silver screen.
Take the Lead rakes in at an exhausting two hours, which is too long for a supposed feel-good flick about dancers in the hood. The draining length is the film’s most costly flaw, magnifying the other issues, which wouldn’t be as bothersome if the movie was no more than ninety minutes. Often times I was more interested in what the person was eating next to me then in who was attempting to the take the lead on the screen.
Take the Lead is more appropriate as a mediocre Lifetime movie than a two-hour, feature film.
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Comments
1.
Kat says:
This was one of the best movies I have seen lately!!! It is a great story and the kids in the movie were wonderful. I loved the portrayal of Pierre by Antonio Banderas. And I just loved watching the dancing!!! Go see this movie!
August 18, 2007 at 1:24 pm
2.
James says:
Its a nice website
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August 9, 2007 at 5:07 am
3.
Santa Espinosa Fontanez Flecha De McDowell says:
Wish they had a program like this in our schools here in Paterson, NJ. Things would be so much different for sure. Children here feel that there is really nothing to look forward to. Won't someone implement a program like this in our Paterson, NJ school system?
April 18, 2007 at 10:54 am
4.
Santa Espinosa Fontanez Flecha De McDowell says:
Beautiful movie. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Antonio Banderas was fantastic as Pierre Dulaine. His moves dancing were amazing/beautiful/elegant/tasteful and bottom line fantastic
April 18, 2007 at 10:51 am
5.
laura says:
i didnt enjoy this moie
April 13, 2007 at 10:16 pm
6.
carolyn hill says:
Having just seen the movie for the first time, I do not agree with your review. I thought it was a very good example of what youths could today if someone just take to time to care.
April 4, 2007 at 3:52 pm