Dance Lexie Dance

I believe it was the noted psychologist Don Henley, formerly of The Eagles, who said "all she wants to do is dance, dance, dance" (from 1984's Building the Perfect Beast for you trivia scholars). Dancing, particularly riverdancing, is all 12-year-old Laura (Kimberly McConkey) wants to do. Living in Northern Ireland with her recently widowed father Lexie (B. J. Hogg), an emotionally shell-shocked factory night shift worker who is struggling as a single parent, Laura is ready to re-enter life's stream even though her da isn't. As Lexie, first taking tentative steps toward assisting Laura and later offering his wholehearted support, shares his daughter's dream, the duo begin the sometimes funny, sometimes touching journey of recovery from their loss. Oscar-nominated last year for Best Live Action Short, Dance Lexie Dance is a well-made, feel-good film that, nevertheless, is too short to leave much of an aftertaste, and is never psychologically more than Coping With Grief Lite. Optional. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)