SHALL WE DANCE

US, 2004, 105 minutes, Colour.
Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Richard Jenkins, Omar Miller, Bobby Cannavale, Anita Gillette.
Directed by Peter Chelsom.

The 1996 Japanese film, Shall We Dance, was popular all around the world. However, sub-titled films do not reach the large market. Hence the re-makes and their Americanisation. Reviewers who remember the original fondly generally lambaste the American versions both for being American and for not dramatising the Japanese sensibility. A lot of criticism was focused on Richard Gere’s credibility as a humdrum office worker who could not dance and that the basic situation of his going to dance lessons secretly could not happen in contemporary America. Maybe, maybe not.

This is a feelgood movie, a nice movie, a decent movie. In fact, Richard Gere seems to be enjoying himself immensely, his laughter in many sequences being infectious. He is also more than a bit paternal with his two children. It is a pleasing role for him.

Jennifer Lopez usually gets a bad press as well. Her role is very melancholic, so she does not have much opportunity to be effervescent except when she dances. Susan Sarandon gives a sensible performance and has some of the best lines about the nature of marriage and commitment (that a spouse is important also because they are a witness to their partner’s and by sharing it give it meaning). Added to that are some excellent supporting roles, Lisa Ann Walters as the buxom dancer who dreams of winning competitions; Stanley Tucci giving another very different performance as the bald secret dancer; Richard Jenkins as a private detective).

This is a midlife story with a happy ending, that if we take the opportunity to break out of the mundane with something that we can learn and achieve, then we are the better for it and so are those around us. This sounds a bit like a sermon but, along with the dance sequences which are both humorous and strictly ballroom, this is a message film that it is quite right to feel good, even if reviewers would prefer an unhappy ending!


1. A feelgood film? On marriage, family, individual affirmation?

2. Comparisons with the Japanese original? Plot, characters, treatment?

3. The world of dance, the music, the range of dances, the scenes of performance, competition?

4. Chicago, the business office, the train ride, the studio, the streets? Realism?

5. Richard Gere as John, at home, his relationship with Beverly, the twenty years, the children? At work, his friendship with Link, the staff? The routine jobs, the long time? Unhappy? Audiences identifying with him?

6. His unhappiness, reticent, not wanting to hurt Beverly, meditating on the train, noticing Jennifer Lopez in the window, curiosity, going into the studio?

7. Beverly, at home, not noticing her husband’s unhappiness? His excuses, her being upset? Going to the detective, the discussion, the explanations, their giving her back the information, her decision to call off their surveillance? Her puzzle, going to the competition?

8. John, Vern and Bobbie? The introduction to the trio? At Miss Mitzi’s? Paulina, the characters, Bobbie young and active, Vern African American, large? An unlikely trio, learning the first steps, coming back to the lessons, warming up, their progress, Link and his presence, disguise and discovered? His comments about John, the humorous sequence in the toilet, rehearsing – and the collapse, 911?

9. The range of dances, the teaching, Miss Mitzi, Pauline, taking the group instead of Mitzi? Bobbie, her style, the stories? Mitzi, her life story, partner? Bobbie and her dislike of Link, her rudeness, her collapse, in the hospital, all her jobs, her daughter reprimanding her?

10. The detectives, the head of the agency, blunt, untidy, story of his infidelity, attracted to Beverly, talking, explaining the method, the motivations? His assistant, young and eager, going to the dance studio, the attempt to take photos, Bobbie and pushing, spilling things on Pauline’s coat?

11. Pauline, her rudeness to John, the later apology, the later letter of explanation, the voice-over to the visuals? The story of her partner, falling? Her withdrawal?

12. The build-up to the competition, the extra lessons, Link and the Latin dancers, his agreement, Bobbie working with him? John and Pauline, the waltz? His nervousness?

13. The community build-up at the dance studio?

14. Link and Beverly, the wig, the performance, the competitor pulling his wig off, his coming out without it, the applause, their success? Link back in the office, people gossiping and laughing, his swirling the girl around, his rebuking them?

15. John, Bobbie and the waltz, his daughter calling out, Bobbie commenting, Beverly watching? The fall, Bobbie’s skirt, walking off? The aftermath with the group in the bar? John and his withdrawal?

16. Beverly and John, working in the garden, his daughter saying that he ought to teach his wife to dance? Their discussions, her being hurt, his not wanting to hurt her?

17. Pauline and the letter? The scenes of her dancing?

18. Beverly, the gift of the tuxedo?

19. Going to the dance, Pauline’s farewell, John dancing with her? Beverly joining in? The whole group joining in, celebration?

20. The final panels, the ending for each of the characters – and even the detective going to the dance class?