Alive & Kicking

Despite a painfully slow, over-artsy first ten minutes, Alive & Kicking is a satisfying love story with universal appeal, sporting engaging, often witty dialog and brisk dance scenes. Love in the time of AIDS is the theme, focusing on the developing relationship between HIV-positive dancer Tonio (in a sparkling performance by Jason Flemyng) and his dumpy, tippling therapist lover, Jack (played by Antony Sher, recently seen as Dr. Moth in Shakespeare in Love). Tonio's grief over the recent loss of his lover and his best friend, and his growing fear as his body teeters toward illness, are in perfect counterpoint to Jack's binge-drinking pity-pot routines. Not to be missed are the brief appearances by Dorothy Tutin, playing Luna, the dotty owner of the dance troupe Tonio belongs to, who frequently reminds her dancers how much she loves "queers." A terrific movie to be shared with main squeezes of any gender. Strongly recommended. (K. G. Schneider)