Pleasing "Feel Good" Movie

Rating: 9/10 (29 October 2004)

I can sometimes barely tolerate J Lo, other times not. Mostly not, in this movie ... her acting never seems to improve. She was tolerable in one dance scene with Gere, the rest of the time she sucked as usual.
I am not a Richard Gere fan either, but surprisingly I thought he was rather good in this movie, underplaying his role quite nicely.
I'm still wondering why, feeling the way I do about two of the stars, I went to see this movie. I guess the trailer drew me in. However, I'm very glad I did see it, because I enjoyed it tremendously.
The supporting cast was marvelous. Lisa Ann Walters as Bobbie practically stole the show, and Stanley Lucci as Link, the closet dancer, was a surprising treat. Susan Sarandon, in the role of Richard Gere's wife, was as solid as always.
Somehow the movie works. The dancing is wonderful, and the camaraderie that grows amongst the clientele of Miss Mitzi's School of Dance is heartwarming without being sickly sentimental. The storyline is believable and is spun with finesse. All in all, an enchanting little movie. In spite of J Lo, I still give it an 8.5 out of 10.