Decent, though rather predictable

Rating: 7/10 (15 July 2008)

BILLY ELLIOT is about an 11 year-old boy who hates boxing and instead of continuing with this class, switches to ballet. He loves to dance but is afraid to tell his working-class family because of the perceived "unmanliness" of dance, so he practices without their knowledge until he can no longer hide it--as he has a chance to go to a prestigious ballet academy in London. Will his father and weasel-like older brother back off and let him be who he wants to be or will Billy be cursed to be stuck in a dying town for the rest of his life?
I was very surprised that an inspirational movie like BILLY ELLIOT would be rated R. Generally, this sort of movie is perfect family fare and in so many ways this film is. However, the profuse use of vulgarities really make this a family-unfriendly film and it loses most of its audience. It wasn't just the language that was crude, but hand gestures and sexualized nature of the film that disturbed me. Now for non-British audiences, this might not seem as bad because some of the references have different meanings in other countries. The word "fanny" and the gesture looking like the "peace sign" are interpreted 100% differently in the US, for example--as here, neither would be considered obscene or family-inappropriate. Some may argue that the film used these crudities because that is how people are in these mining towns and perhaps this is true, but would it have seriously negatively impacted the film if these references would have been toned down? I sure doubt it AND the movie could have reached a much wider audience. This is all a real shame, as the structure of the film is similar to many family films. You know, one where someone or a group overcomes tons of obstacles in order to make their dream come true. Plus, as you KNOW that they will win in the end (so there isn't much real tension), this is a style film that might NOT appeal to the more discriminating adult viewer and SHOULD have more appeal more to kids.
As for the rest of the film, it's very well made and entertaining. The acting is fine, the cinematography and direction are all fine. It is a good film--though also one that isn't a "must-see" due to it being rather formulaic and therefore predictable. Worth a look, but don't rush out to rent this one.