When you're in the mood for a love story... (minor spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (5 July 2004)

I guess my review is aimed for female audiences. Sometimes, you just feel like watching a love story, production values be damned.
Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals) is Pennsylvania steel mill worker by day; exotic dancer by night. This is all meant to delude her, and pass time, until she finally gains the courage to follow her dream of going to dance school at some posh ballet academy. We see that she has the talent, but she doesn't have the courage to follow through. It seems her friends share the same experiences--figuring out how to make their mark. Cue Nick Hurley, Alex's boss and soon-to-be love interest, who is her last bit of hard encouragement to finally audition for the ballet school. Of course, you can probably guess how it ends. The story is quite cliched.
Flashdance is probably best remembered for the dance numbers, particularly the finale, though the ones performed in the club--which have an air of music video style--are quite cool to see. And yes, as another viewer mentioned, many are probably familiar with a few hit numbers on the soundtrack ('maniac' and 'what a feeling'). But shucks, if you're just a sucker for romantic movies (particularly those of the 80s), then you'll likely enjoy this one. It doesn't take anything too seriously, but at least the characters aren't so annoying and obnoxious. It is just a simple, pleasant story about a girl who falls in love, and is encouraged to work hard for something she wants and that, if she constantly doubts her abilities, then nothing will become of it and that ain't too cool.