2008 Woodie Awards
Shall We Dance? I Think We Shall!
November's romantic comedy leaves audiences in a joyous dancing frenzy.
Katie Pederson
Issue date: 11/12/04 Section: Entertainment
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Shall We Dance is a charming remake of the 1997 Japanese film of the same name about an overworked and underappreciated estate lawyer named John Clark, played by the magnificent Richard Gere (Pretty Woman, Chicago), who spontaneously decides to take up ballroom dancing lessons because of the beautiful woman he sees in the studio window every night from his commuter train, played by Jennifer Lopez (Selena, Enough). At his first night of beginner classes at Miss Mitzi's Dance Studio, John is introduced to a hilarious band of fellow first timers and weathered pros including the girl-hunting Chic (Bobby Cannavale), the large but sensitive fiancé Vern (Omar Benson Miller), the over-the-top dreamer Bobbie (Lisa Ann Walter) and the alcoholic studio owner Miss Mitzi (Anita Gillette). With the help of his new friends and the talent of the window charmer, a sad instructor and former dancing legend Paulina (Lopez), John finds happiness again.
But happiness may come at the expense of temporary insanity for his out of the loop and suspicious wife Beverly, played by Susan Sarandon (Stepmom, Little Woman), who hires a private detective to figure out why he returns home so late smelling of woman's perfume. All in all, Shall We Dance is a story of self-worth, love, and understanding as John must overcome his own doubts to showcase his newfound dancing talents in competition and regain the acceptance and understanding of his wife.
Having seen the original Japanese version, Shall We Dance is one of the few American remakes that lives up to its foreign original, helped in large part by a superb cast and the incredible sentimentality of the script itself. Gere is at his finest in this film, letting his guard down and showing the audience his more corny and emotional side. Lopez brings sensuality to the screen, with one of her most memorable lines describing dancing as "a vertical expression of a horizontal desire." The cast is further augmented by guest appearances from professional dancers and the cameo parts of actors Nick Cannon and Mya. But it is the final romance that is developed through the dancing between John Clark and his wife Beverly that makes the whole piece more meaningful and touching, if not a bit sappy.
Shall We Dance proves that you can dance or cry in any language, music being the international equalizer. The amazing performance from this rock-solid cast will have you clicking your heels and shaking your hips all the way home, putting the smile and sway back into your November.