People Liked this movie???!

Rating: Null/10 (18 February 2001)

**maybe spoilers**
I can't believe the number of positive reviews i have seen for this tragic excuse for a movie. OK, maybe it's not that bad, but at the very best, it is mediocre.
It boasts some grand overacting from the normally very likeable Julia Stiles, an oversimplistic plot, and to top it all off, eveyr actor in the film seems bored with their stereotypical character. There is no chemistry between any of the characters, even the hatred between Stiles' character Sara and her 'nemesis' Nikki, seems forced and tired. The dancing in uninspired (except for the big finale scene at the end).
The pace is slow, and most of the story telling techniques used are stale and obvious. The characters are flat and worthless, for example Derek's friend Malaki, whom Derek says 'has a good heart'. This 'good heart' is nowhere in evidence in this movie, because he is played as a standard "bad guy" with absolutely no redeeming qualities. It is impossible for the viewer to understand why the bright, intelligent, and kind Derek would remain loyal to his jerk of a friend. What does any of this have to do with the plot of a dancer struggling to get along in a new world? Nothing. That's another of the problems with Save The Last Dance: there are too many sub plots that are not dealt with in an interesting and entertaining way. Instead of weaving the sub plots together to create a coherent story, the sub plots are cut and pasted crudely so that it looks like this: Sara moves to the ghetto, must try to fit in; Sara doesn't like her dad; Sara makes friends with Chenille; Sara falls for Derek; Sara learns how to be hip hop; Derek must choose between Sara and the evil Malaki; Sara gives up on everything; Sara tries again; Sara makes friends with her dad; Sara triumphs over all her difficulties with one astounding blow. The end. There is very little correlation between different aspects of the plot, leaving me the audience feeling bored and hollow.
This is not a good movie. It does not realistically show life. It is not inspiring (becuase it is uninspired). It is vaguely entertaining, but don't have high expectations. I went in thinking it would be energetic and funky, and left yawning and wanting to go to bed and forget that i saw it. Wait for the video... don't waste the cash on the big screen... it's not worth it.