A Pleasant Surprise

Rating: 8/10 (14 January 2001)

Promos for Save the last Dance have been running for quite a while now and everytime i would see one i would go. "i have to see this movie", but naother part of me was going "but what if this is just another teen film". I went with my initial instinct and saw the movie and i'm glad i did. This film is so much more than just a teen film. in fact i saw a lot of adults in the audience when i saw it. Save the Last Dance really makes you think about some of the issues that are addressed in the film.
The plot revolves around Sara Johnson(Julia Stiles) who moves to a very bad part of Chicago with her dad after her mom is killed in a car accident. her mom is killed during this accident while trying to rush to see sara try out for Julliard. Sara is so heart borken by this event that she holds off on dance. When she arrives to chicago she attends a mostly black highschool and has to learn to fit in. She meets Chenille(Kerry Washington) who shows her the ropes and how to get around in school. She also meets her brother Derek(Sean Patrick Thomas)who had a shaddy past but now has dreams of going to georgetown and becoming a doctor. Soon they all begin to hang out and go to this hip hop club called steps. Soon derek is showing sara how to dance like them and she picks up on it pretty quickly. soon they meet afterschool and practice and he learns that she once did ballet and that passion for dance soon turns into a romance for the both of them. problems arise when this interacial pairing is put to the test on many occasions.
The acting by everyone is pretty good but it's the chemistry of the 2 leads that carry the film. Julia Stiles is a very talented actress who is really breaking out in the industry and i hope more adult work comes her way that will trully test her talent. Sean Patrick Thomas is also good as Derek. he has a very low key charisma and fascinating screen prescence. when these 2 are together however the film becomes so much better because their chemistry is so strong that you honestly want them to be together. The Acting by the supporting cast, especially fredro starr and Kerry Washington is also good.
The music and Dancing are a real highlight. the hip hop scenes are very fun and energetic and one of the best aspects of the film. also the scenes where derek is tryng to teach sara how to dance is when the film is at its best..
I really recommend this film because it was very enjoyable and shouldn't be written off as just naother teen flick. check it out. B+