Take the Lead

Mad Hot Ballroom, the popular 2005 documentary about disadvantaged New York students who learn discipline and mutual respect through ballroom dance classes, is given the full-blown Hollywood treatment in Liz Friedlander's Take the Lead. Antonio Banderas stars as Pierre Dulaine, the real-life figure who inspired the original, but in this formulaic script he's a stock figure—a refined fellow who witnesses a student vandalizing the principal's car at an inner-city school and, shocked by the utter lack of courtesy, offers his services gratis, in the belief that teaching students how to tango will enhance not only their sense of self-worth but also their manners. Not surprisingly, Dulaine successfully connects with the disparate kids (a convenient cross-section representing fat and thin, geeks and jocks, black, white, and Hispanic, and even a Romeo-and-Juliet couple), despite the hostility of the obligatory by-the-book teacher (who thinks the whole effort is a waste of time), winning the passionate support of principal, parents, and students, and does indeed “make a difference.” And did I mention that Dulaine himself finds a kind of salvation from the class, finally coming to terms with the death of his beloved wife? Or that the group is gearing up for a big citywide dance competition? Take the Lead may be based on a true story, but none of it rings true. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Liz Friedlander and editor Robert Ivison, a 17-minute “Meet the Dungeon Kids” featurette on the cast, “Between the Steps: A Profile of Pierre Dulaine” (17 min.) on the real-life instructor, the 10-minute featurette “Liz, Swizz, and Ziggy: The Director and Her Music Team,” seven deleted and alternate scenes (6 min.), a multi-angle shot of a tango sequence, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing film.] (F. Swietek)