"Take the Lead" has all the right moves

It's been told all too many times: the story of how ghetto teenagers living on the violent streets of New York (it's always New York) are rescued by some stranger from a completely different world. But in "Take the Lead," the story is updated with Antonio Banderas and dazzling dance moves, from the fox trot and salsa, to hip hop. In the film, the characters are real, their stories seem believable, and the dances keep the beat to an overall wonderfully told story.

The film starts when Rock (Rob Brown) vandalizes his principal's car and is first introduced to the hero of the movie, Pierre (Banderas). Everything about Pierre is strange, from his romantic Spanish accent to his philosophy and belief in dance: that the fox trot and the Viennese waltz are not dance steps but a way to learn respect and strength. Because of this, and his uncommonly formal attire of four piece suits, he is seen by the students as a freak.

Regardless of their teasing, Pierre is set on helping these children in any way that he can, and so begins to teach the kids what he does best: ballroom dance. He brings these troubled teenagers, who are stuck for the rest of the school year in detention for misbehaving, a new form of dancing that is both foreign and boring to them. But through his graceful steps, they all learn about one another, work as a team and prove themselves to the people who didn't believe in them.

Take the Lead

Photo: "Take the Lead" stars Antonio Banderas and Rob Brown.

"Take the Lead" stars Antonio Banderas and Rob Brown.

Sprinkled among the fancy footwork are stories of life in poverty, ranging from a few fist fights, to a game of street ball, to an attempted rape. But rather than making them too brutal to be real, director Liz Friedlander presents these events realistically. They are not overly dramatic but told in honest, simple ways that make them more believable than scenes in most other movies.

But it is not just the realistic presentation of the many subplots of this movie that makes it a hit; it's the characters themselves. Pierre, though strange in the eyes of almost everyone in this movie, is a romantic and a believer who will make the audience smile. He is the stereotypical exotic man with the long sleek hair and the sexy accent, who always talks about the beauty of dance and stands in the presence of any woman. His patience and kindness are simply touching, as he spends weeks with the teenagers who openly resent him and this strange new dance. His students are just as lovable, once the audience sees through their rough exterior. They are not dramatic, or overdone teens from the slums of New York, but normal students that any teenager can relate to. They are brutally honest and sharp witted, but believable. Friedlander doesn't aim to make them pitiful victims of the ghetto or rebellious trouble makers, but simply kids.

Even without the characters, the subplots, and the approach, the dance moves still make the film a winner. They too are not overdone, but simply beautiful, and will take the audience's breath away. The hip hop moves of the New York teenagers are fun to watch, and promises to impress without making parents cringe.

Despite its trite plot, this movie was still surprisingly good. It takes the classic story of troubled teens who need guidance, much like in "Honey," and turns it into a great movie that's sure to be a family favorite. This funky, fresh mix of hip hop and ballroom dancing will please crowds of all backgrounds and all ages, making "Take the Lead" an unforgettable film.