Genres

Visitors Review

Louis B. Hobson 2012-05-19 14:19:50

This American version doesn't have the same exquisite magic and profound understanding, but it is charming in its own way.

Todd Gilchrist 2012-05-19 10:05:47

Lopez has the simultaneous gift and curse of being exactly as good as her material; she fully inhabits the solemnity of Paulina without overshadowing the central conflict.

mr0goodtime 2012-05-09 18:58:54

likable

Same time every night a bored and tired lawyer takes the train homefrom work, looks out the window, and sees a beautiful yet sad danceinstructor. He signs up for dance lessons, and although it seems he ismotivated by innocent curiosity, he hides it from his wife, and thetriangle begins.Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez both seem a bit too old now, but thatswhat the story is trying to portray, it manages to show they haveemotional pasts, but the details aren't really explored. Everycharacter has a weakness, but they seem real, and I enjoyed theirprogress. You wont see any great dancing here, but the music is good, the cast islikable, and it had a few laughs. I don't usually go for romanticcomedies but I would recommend this one.

nottoman 2012-05-09 07:56:03

Thoughtful and engaging. So many people are closet dancers

This movie has many great textures - the opposite sex attraction, thedancing, the dynamics and stresses of relationships, and then on adeeper level, the thoughtful narration of Gere's character concerningpeople and their wills, their lives, and their hopes and regrets. I wasimpressed by the acting of all the main characters, and was especiallysurprised by Lopez's performance. This movie is so much a story aboutthe dreams and hidden desires of most people, who deep inside want tobreak out of their mundane routines, and do something that's in theirheart. Personally I related incredibly to Gere's character -- sure,deep inside I would love to dance, to express myself, to become skilledat something I did on the dance floor in the 80's...but am afraid ofwhat people would think of a 46 yr old father of six doing somethinglike that. The music was outstanding and added a very specific flavorto the film, invoking a mood of thoughtfulness and self examination atthe right time, and the spice of exuberance when appropriate. Closetdancers - enjoy!! I loved it and watch it once a year at least.

Josh Larsen 2012-05-09 06:54:22

Lopez...lords over the movie like a narcissistic devil.

Claudio Carvalho 2012-05-08 20:41:54

Delightful Entertainment

In Chicago, the workaholic lawyer John Clark (Richard Gere) is feelingbored with his routine life, limited to work and stay at home with hiswife Beverly Clark (Susan Sarandon) and his teenager's son anddaughter. One night, while traveling home by train, he sees thebeautiful face of Paulina (Jennifer Lopez) in the balcony of a danceschool, and a couple of days later, he decides to visit the school andtake dancing classes every Wednesdays. However, he becomes ashamed totell his family his "little secret". Meanwhile, Beverly feels thechanges in her happier husband, and hires a private eye to investigatewhether John is having an affair."Shall We Dance?" is a delightful entertainment. It is pleasant to seea nice cast like the sexy Jennifer Lopez, the charming Richard Gere,the surprisingly great dancer Stanley Tucci, the funny Lisa Ann Walter,the wonderful Susan Sarandon and excellent support actors and actressesplaying and dancing great music along 106 minutes. After watching thisfeel-good romance, the viewer will certainly feel lighter and relaxed.My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Dança Comigo?" ("Dance With Me?")Obs: On October 15th 2005, I saw the original "Shall We Dansu?", whichis better and better than this remake.

Philip Wuntch 2012-05-08 11:24:01

A polished, feel-good movie that will be most appreciated by those who went back for second helpings of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

2012-05-08 03:25:37

For music, dance and Richard Gere Fans

This review is from: Shall We Dance? (Full Screen Edition) (DVD) A good showing of Richard Gere in a mature role. Jennifer Lopez and Susan Sarandon shine well, too. A feel-good movie with great dancing from actors not usually on the dance floor.

Jeffrey Overstreet 2012-05-03 10:21:50

American filmmakers have [again] hammered something beautiful down into unremarkable mush. Still, it honors marriage more than any film in recent memory.

julieinnyc2002 2012-05-02 15:58:06

Saccharine sweet, predictable, trite and over-acted

I really wanted to like this movie but I couldn't. The previews I firstsaw depicted the movie as a cute, finding-your-place-in-the-world-typemovie even though Gere is nearing senior citizen status (he still lookshandsome for an old dude).I just rented it on DVD and I have to say that there are some kind ofcute moments but overall, the movie is marred by J Lo's over-acting(can she make more than one facial expression? guess not with all thatplastic surgery; she's had too much work done on her face; in someparts, she looks scary), predictable dialogue/scenes and cheesy lines.Some of the scenes are so predictable, one can easily guess what theactor will say next. And there are some very cheesy lines. I am a fanof Audrey Wells' work so I was disappointed that this movie did notlive up to its cute premise and to her stellar reputation.It's a movie that means well but tries too hard. The result? Scenesthat feel fake and there really isn't anything anyone can do about thebad acting especially by J Lo. Schmaltzy is a good word that describesthis movie and how it makes one feel. Obviously, there is a happyHollywood ending.I'd bet that ABC may have used this movie as inspiration for their hitshow, Dancing with the Stars.

mshtexas 2012-04-30 08:03:46

Unbelievable..a movie that is funny, romantic, beautiful to watch and supports goodness!

I saw this movie in a invitation only preview with a followup Q&A withthe director. It was a totally enjoyable experience and I will spend myown money to see it again with my husband and tell al my friends andrelatives that this is "not to be missed". Richard Gere plays the hardworking probate attorney with the beautifulhome family and wife whom he loves but rarely sees because of herdemanding work as a top buyer. Is it so unusual that a man would have ayearning for something more? Initially lured by the vision of abeautiful woman he sees looking out the dance studio window from histrain home from work, he decides to take ballroom dance lessons. Whatis unusual... is for a movie to depict that this inner yearning isultimately for more expression of beauty and creativity in one's lifewhich is necessary for real happiness.The dance lesson scenes provide great laughs while encouragingcompassion ...and if you love dancing anyway there is much to enjoy inthe ballroom competition scenes. Richard Gere does a great job and mayeven encourage your spouse to learn to dance...if you're lucky. The elitist movie critics will probably pan this one because itsmessage supports the concepts of loyalty and morality and everydaykindness to our fellow human beings....all of which are not deemedsophisticated or 'deep' enough motivators for the tastes of most moviecritics who see themselves as superior in intellect to the rest of us. The people involved in making and directing and producing thisbeautiful movie can feel good about contributing something soentertaining and beautiful to watch while courageously reinforcing thevalues of moral faithfulness and goodness of the human spirit. Closeyour ears to the intellectual snobbery of the movie critics and takeyourself out for an evening of great entertainment.

jessie-39 2012-04-29 22:42:35

The Perfect Movie!

Wow! We saw the sneak preview and it was simply spectacular. RichardGere is simply wonderful as a dancer in this terrific role. He shinesthroughout the movie as does the one and only J Lo. SHe is gorgeous,sexy a fantastic body and wonderful dancer. And not a single kiss inthe entire movie with Gere. The other members of this cast will haveyou rolling in the aisles. Stanley TUcci shows more of his versatilityand is equally wonderful as is Gere in the movie as a closet dancinglawyer. Bobby Cannavale who is beginning to show up everywhere on thesmall screen in roles as tough guys is a fabulous dancer and comedianin this movie. The very huge Omar Benson Miller who you have seen timeand again in a stereotypical "Black man" role is wonderful and adancer, comic and just wonderful in this quite a jump from his usualroles where is has been a fine fine serious actor. We loved it andrecommend it highly. We hope that it catches the attention of theAcademy as it is so refreshing and different that it deservesnominations for any and all of the folks in the movie and I am sure itwill garner many golden globe awards because it is a "musical" lovestory of sorts... the love of dancing.

2012-04-25 14:09:26

GOOD BUT WON'T WIN AT BLACKPOOL

SHALL WE DANCE? is a Hollywood fairy tale about ballroom dancing; what is portrayed here doesn't exist in the real world. In the everyday ballroom world, many dance studios are money traps for lonely women who take years of expensive lessons only to be able ultimately to follow their young, attractive dance instructors and nobody else on the dance floor. The studio system is a racket and is not realistically portrayed in SHALL WE DANCE? But this, after all, is a love story of sorts with a ballroom background and not a documentary, so all is forgiven. We ballroom dancers will enjoy this entertaining, sweet film about our activity if only because there are so few such offerings. Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez both give subdued performances as the angst-filled lawyer and the jilted Blackpool-level dancer, respectively. What motivates the middle-aged Gere character to go to the studio in the first place is never really clear. It could be a desire for romance or just a need to accomplish something new. But then why not sky diving or fly fishing? Susan Sarandon gives a competent performance as the spouse settled ridgedly into the suburban, upper-class housewife role with blinders on. The best scene for me was when JLo (an assistant teacher at the dance studio) was explaining and demonstrating the rumba to the Gere character: "It is a vertical expression of a horizontal wish..." That was one of the few scenes with any emotional intensity. My favorite characters were the stereotypical private detective and his Great Books-quoting black assistant hired to follow the lawyer. Light fare, SHALL WE DANCE? is a perfect flick for a first date or a date with your spouse, but it won't win any trophies at Blackpool.

Camerin Courtney 2012-04-25 00:06:13

The 1996 original is classier, deeper, more poignant. A Ginger Rogers to this Beyoncé.

dmk2 2012-04-23 07:51:58

Good adaption of the original Japanese version

Since this is a remake it is difficult to comment without reference tothe original. Japanese and American cultures are somewhat different,this is a good adaptation of the original Japanese film (which Ienjoyed very much - I do ballroom dance too). This too was veryenjoyable. The dialogue has been updated to suite the American audienceand the different cultural back ground. This makes it a more accessibleversion to the western audience than the Japanese version; otherwiseit's a reasonable remake of a lovely film. Richard Gere, Lisa AnnWalter and Jennifer Lopez turned in good performances on the dancefloor, though I must admit I liked the dance scenes in the originalbetter.

Joel Sloane 2012-04-22 12:21:11

A bankrupt remake

SPOILERS (although this lame remake could not possibly be spoiled anyfurther). The first, most basic rule a beginning writer (includingscreenwriter) is taught is "Show, don't tell"; that is, let thereaders, or viewers, realize for themselves what emotions a charactermay feel, from his actions, not from his words. This wholly unnecessaryremake of the wonderful 1996 Japanese original breaks this elementaryrule. Indeed, would any viewer have guessed that Richard Gere was somuch in love with Susan Sarandon, had he not said so to her (andtherefore to the audience) in the manipulative scene in which heappears at her work in formal dress with rose in hand? Certainlynothing from what we see of their relationship before this scene hintsat such deep love. (Incidentally, whenever the screenplay departs fromthe Japanese original, as in the above-mentioned scene, it becomestotally bankrupt and unoriginal: the scene is lifted straight out of"An Officer and a Gentleman," when Gere, in full white uniform, appearsat Debra Winger's job to carry her away.) I'm a great fan of StanleyTucci (who is good in everything, even in this), but I almost lost allrespect for him to allow himself to appear in this atrocious movie. Howcould he not realize that the dialog was so poorly written? I have nodoubt that this remake will be very successful, judging from the tasteof the American public, which seems to have sunk to new depths. If youabsolutely MUST see this movie, I recommend that you first rent the DVDof the Japanese original, and then compare it to this remake toappreciate the truth of my critique.

nama chakravorty 2012-04-17 18:47:34

Fun!

A remake of a award-winning 1996 Japanese film, 'Shall We Dance?' isindeed an interesting and fun flick to watch and remember. It's got acharming plot, coupled with competent performances and worthydirection.'Shall We Dance?' tells the story of a man, who despite having a lovelyfamily, believes his life is nothing but work. He, however, gets his'un-worthy' life back in shape through dancing.'Shall We Dance?' is a terrific idea, and this is a fun remake. Whatworks the most for this flick, is it's unpredictability. A guy getsback in shape through Dancing, and keeps his journey interesting, coolindeed! Peter Chelsom's direction is worth a mention. Well-Done! The Screenplayis cool. John de Borman's Cinematography is nice. The Editing is apt.Performances are rocking: Richard Gere is fabulous. The veteran actordances gracefully and plays his part with restrain. Jennifer Lopez issuperb, her dances are indeed a treat to watch. Susan Sarandon is tops.Stanley Tucci is fair. Lisa Ann Walter is in terrific form. RichardJenkins is fantastic, as always. Anita Gillette is lovable. Omar Milleris good. Others lend able support.On the whole, We Shall Indeed Dance! Go, Have Fun!

loverboy012001 2012-04-17 00:41:45

Dazzaling, Spectacular, Magnificent

Shall We Dance is by far one of the best movies out there. The cast wasgreat, just like the plot and people who worked on this film. I wasespecially surprised by the performance Jennifer Lopez. She really diddo a great job. This movie just took my breath away. It's a fun, happy.sad, and great date movie. Go see it, you won't be disappointed. Ifthere was another remake for this movie I would 100% do it, noquestions asked. The soundtrack as well is one of the best. When I sawthe making of this movie and the music that goes along to it I was justtaking away by it. I knew I was going to have to see it. I wasconvinced. Just go see it and judge for yourself I know you'll love it.Go see Shall We Dance today and get ready to dance yourself.

Rebecca Murray 2012-04-15 19:28:59

Stanley Tucci is the reason to see Shall We Dance?

2012-04-15 02:29:48

Shall We Enjoy a Movie?

If you like a nice, feel-good story, this is for you. Someone told me that it is not as good as an earlier, Japanese version. Maybe yes, maybe no, but the Japanese version has subtitles, and I hate subtitles. For me, this version sparkles. Richard Gere does his usual, outstanding job as John Clark, a mousy attorney who prepares wills. His wife, Beverly (beautifully played by Susan Sarandon), is loving and considerate, but a spark is missing from John's dismal life. As he rides the El to his Chicago home each night, he passes Miss Mitzi's Dance Studio, and each night he sees a lovely woman (played with understated elegance by Jennifer Lopez) staring into space from a studio window. Something in the scene touches a chord in him, and one night, he hops off the El and enrolls in a dance class. He and his fellow students are clumsy and sadly pathetic, but as they progress, a change comes over them. Beverly, concerned that he is having an affair, hires a detective to learn the startling truth. Everything comes to a whirling, glorious climax at the Chicago dancing schools' big dance contest. It will leave you smiling and humming the music. This is a truly enjoyable motion picture.