"Strictly Ballroom” is a goofy 90’s romantic comedy about a competitive dancer who doesn’t want to adhere to the rules. It is okay for what it is but you shouldn’t walk into this one expecting “You’ve Got Mail.” The tone lies somewhere between a Christopher Guest mockumentary and a Chris Farley comedy, with a love story about as strong as that of “Happy Gilmore.” In fact, I wouldn’t even really consider this a romcom. I really sense a cinematic identify crisis with this film. It film focuses on exaggerated stereotypes and over-the-top acting rather than a strong plot, but they aren't quite ridiculous enough to be at a mockumentary level. Even the dancing that is the focus of the story is only slightly better than average. Viewing the film with these expectations, the actors get the job done by capturing the spirit of each character’s big personality. Paul Mercurio and Tara Morice do well in the lead roles, though I preferred the character roles of Pat Thomson (mother) and Bill Hunter (Barry). I was surprised to see Baz Luhrman’s name attached as director since the film is such a far cry from his other films like “Moulin Rouge” and “Romeo + Juliet.” I feel like it falls short of his visionary storytelling. He is well-known as a risk taker but perhaps he was just finding his vision since it was his directorial debut. I view “Strictly Ballroom” as an “ok” film that feels dated; still, if you’re looking for a brief amusement and a sense of nostalgia for 90’s films, this one should do the trick.
[Pictured: Even the dance sequences can't make this a memorable film]
