Shall We Dance?
John Clark (Richard Gere) has all he could ever ask for, including a successful career and a loving wife (Susan Sarandon). Even so, he can't find true happiness and becomes intrigued by stunning dance teacher Paulina (Jennifer Lopez), whom he sees every night leaving work. Drawn by her allure, John heads to the studio and signs up for lessons. As John's friendship with Paulina grows, so does his love for dance, renewing his lease on life.
Member Reviews
A beginner's lesson - imagination201
And that is mostly the kind of level of dancing that we see throughout the movie. While I enjoy watching the process of characters discovering dancing and getting better, I expected more high level dancing by the end of the movie, and was left on my appetite in that aspect.
In regards to comedy, sure, there are a few smiles here and there, but nothing rib-splitting either.
As for drama, well, it is what kept me watching, and why I still liked this movie. It is, all in all, a good story about a man's middle-life crisis and how he resolves it.
A nice watch for the drama.Shall we dance? - Shelly1963
Just like Saturday Night Fever, this movie made me want to dance. It handled mid-life crisis in a diplomatic manner, while saving their marriage. Movies that give pause or make one think, after the credits roll, are always my personal favourites. Outstanding cast and highly recommend it for those who are in love or struggling to understand their partners new found hobby.Dance right back to the 1996 original - Baboonvideo
As well intentioned as everyone associated with Shall We Dance? may have been (of course, it may have just been about the money), they appear to have missed one critical element of the 1996 Japanese movie of the same name when they decided to try a remake: this was a Japanese story about finding joy in a mundane life and platonic romance on the dance floor. When the businessman lead in the original film stepped away from his workaholic routine by unexpectedly finding passion with ballroom dance, it was an experience of secret unexpected joy and discovery in a rigid culture. When the handsome and only marginally buttoned-down Richard Gere steps into these shoes in the 2004 remake, however, it comes across as more of a mid-life crisis than a reawakening, thus draining the story of much of its surprise and pleasure. That said, Shall We Dance? isn’t a complete washout. Gere, as he proved in Chicago, has enough sizzle on the dance floor to entertain whenever he slips on his dancing shoes and his humorous work with dance classmates Stanley Tucci, Lisa Ann Walter and Bobby Cannavale is enough to make up for a stiff Jennifer Lopez (as a dancing instructor) and miscast Susan Sarandon (as Gere’s suspicious wife).
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A beginner's lesson - imagination201
And that is mostly the kind of level of dancing that we see throughout the movie. While I enjoy watching the process of characters discovering dancing and getting better, I expected more high level dancing by the end of the movie, and was left on my appetite ...Shall we dance? - Shelly1963
Just like Saturday Night Fever, this movie made me want to dance. It handled mid-life crisis in a diplomatic manner, while saving their marriage. Movies that give pause or make one think, after the credits roll, are always my personal favourites. Outstanding ...Dance right back to the 1996 original - Baboonvideo
As well intentioned as everyone associated with Shall We Dance? may have been (of course, it may have just been about the money), they appear to have missed one critical element of the 1996 Japanese movie of the same name when they decided to try a remake: ...