Strictly Ballroom

The second movie is a Dirty Dancing-style, boy-meets-ugly-duckling tale. The story allows you to peek behind the covers of a first generation Australian and her awkward attempts to fit into a new culture while maintaining her European ties at home.

The third movie is what sets Strictly Ballroom apart from the field - tremendously funny, broad caricatures squabbling around the periphery of Scott and his struggle to bring his 'new steps' to the Pan-Pacific Championships. Pat Thompson is hysterical as Doug's mother Shirley, and Bill Hunter is wonderfully over-the-top as dancing kingmaker Barry Fife ('There are no new steps!'). But attention first-time viewers - keep your eyes on Barry Otto as Scott's father, Doug Hastings. This odd, seemingly shell of a man is actually the emotional core of the film. He provides the movies funniest moments (particularly - as other reviewers have alluded to - a flashback sequence so over-the-top hilarious that it defies description) and its most relevatory ones.

Play this film over and over again and you will never be disappointed.


My favorite dance movie   August 16, 2005
Laura Bellamy (Greensboro, NC United States)
33 out of 33 found this review helpful

This first of Baz Luhrmann's "red curtain movies" tells it's story through classic ballroom dance. Set in Australia, this modern fairy tale of a movie tells the story of Scott Hastings, a young dancer from a family of dancers who is tired of "dancing somebody else's steps all the time." His favorite pastime is making up his OWN steps, but that doesn't win him competitions. When his partner finally gets fed up and drops him, he has to find a new partner.

Enter Fran. Frumpy, shy Fran who comes from a poor Spanish neighborhood and has only been dancing for two years --- with a GIRL!

When she approaches Scott to propose they dance together, Scott's initial reaction is arrogant disbelief. But she convinces him to give her a tryout for just an hour. As they continue to dance, Scott sees in her something that no one else has --- and he is somehow drawn to this ugly duckling creature. Especially when she breaks out into a step he's never seen before and he wants to try it!

As the story unfolds, Scott and Fran learn more about each other, both as dancers and as people. Fran comes out of her shell more and more, shedding the ugly duckling persona and slowly becoming the swan she was meant to be.

And Scott finds what he's been looking for, too. One night at a party at Fran's house, he demonstrates a Paso Doble --- the traditional Spanish dance. Full of his usual cockiness, knowing full well how good a dancer he is, he thinks he'll wow her family with his knowledge of this dance. When they laugh at him, he becomes indignant --- and then Fran's father shows her what a REAL Paso Doble looks like. And Scott knows that THIS is exactly what he's been trying to find in his own dancing.

Peppered with fun characters --- including Scott's best friend and his fiancee, the corrupt chairman of the dance council, Fran's spunky grandmother and severe father, Scott's nutty mother and quiet father with his mysterious past, Ken Railings the oozing-charm-from-every-arrogant-pore professional champion, and Tina Sparkle, who Scott's parents try to get him to dance with --- this film creates a delightful and hilarious atmosphere. The story of his father's past comes out throughout the course of the movie. Nasty politics run rampant in the dance council. And Scott has difficulty balancing his dance life with the romance he begins to feel with Fran.

From the very start, when the red curtain opens to the strains of "The Blue Danube," I adored this movie. And it kept me charmed until the very end. The romance was sweet, the dancing was fun to watch --- particularly Scott and Fran's Paso Doble at the end of the film --- the music was fabulous, and the story was clean and well-thought-out. The entire film is spiced with Luhrmann's odd, kooky style. It's sheer delight. I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for this movie --- it was the first time I ever considered trying to do ballroom dancing myself, this movie started my obsession with the sport! This light-hearted romp is the perfect way to relax and laugh.


You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cheer! A movie WALLOW!   March 24, 2005
R. L. Pulliam (Oakland, CA USA)
28 out of 28 found this review helpful

This Australian gem is one of those rare films that entertains, thrills and pokes fun at an established activiity (in this case, a ballroom dance federation).

To take this film seriously is to miss out on one of the great moviegoing/ moviewatching experiences of the past 15 years.

In a nutshell, an up-and-coming champion ballroom dancer gets bored dancing the same tired steps that everyone has danced in competition the past 50 years and wants to break out and do things his way. Of course, his way is the better way, but that causes all the angst, high drama, dashed hopes and utter hilarity that ensues as forces clash to prevent the young man from taking the ballroom dancing world by storm and up to a new level.

Of course, it's what we've all, always, expected: Things don't change in such events because those who judge and teach can only judge/teach that with which they are familiar.

The cast is perfect, from the dashing young lead embodied by Australian ballet principal Paul Mercurio to the shy, at-first clumsy female lead played by Tara Morice (who also lends her vocals to Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" in a stunning rooftop pas de deux as she starts learning how to dance with him).

Paul's mother -- beautifully and hysterically portrayed by Pat Thomson -- and his seemingly introverted, odd father -- a wonderfully giddy Barry Otto -- are perfectly realized, as are all the other roles, including Bill Hunter's terrifically change-resistant Barry Fife, president of the dance federation.

This is probably Baz Luhrmann's most mainstream movie, since it's more firmly grounded in the now than anything else he's done.

Be on the lookout for a stunning cinematic moment during an outdoor sequence at the girl's house with the lead learning from her father how to correctly dance the Paso Dobles. When it's clear he's gotten the hang of it, the camera does a closeup on him turning and then cuts to an oncoming train, that parallels the house, sweeping down the lower right of the screen. It's one of those Luhrmann touches that set him apart from most other working directors.

"Strictly Ballroom" is a wonderful entertainment that flows along so quickly..and has dramatic highs...and even more thrilling dancing highs...that most of you will be very sorry when it's over.

But never fear...it holds up very well on repeat viewings. It's one of my most-played videos.


"A life lived in fear is a life half-lived"   March 21, 1999
22 out of 22 found this review helpful

A lot of good movies come out of Austrailia, & this is one of my favorites. An unlikely couple upset the comfortable (& lucrative) applecart of the ballroom dancing establishment. Champion dancer Scott has been groomed from birth by his domineering mother to realize her vicarious dream of winning the Austrailian Pan-Pacific Championship. But Scott has become bored with being "strictly ballroom"--the wretched boy wants to 'dance his own steps!' Not only is this heresy, but a threat to the very livelihood of his teachers & 'mentors', retired champion dancers themselves.

He's encouraged by ugly duckling novice dancer Fran, who wants to be his partner. Aided & abetted by Fran's Latin father & grandmother, the couple show the phoney world of ballroom dancing what 'Latin' dancing is all about--not glitz & formality--but passion & a feeling for the beat that comes straight from the heart.

Love & rebellion are in the air, & the dancing is spectacular. Some wickedly funny & campy parody deal the stilted & controlling world of competition ballroom dancing a well-deserved kick in the teeth. (Anyone who watched in disbelief as Torvill & Dean were cheated out of their comeback bid for Olympic gold in ice dancing [the figure skating equivalent of ballroom dancing] by the same sort of stupid & arbitrary rules about 'steps' will chortle with glee.)

But, more than anything, Strictly Ballroom is about having the courage to be yourself. As Scott's father (once a great & original dancer himself, now a sad & henpecked shadow of his former self) says to him: "Don't make the same mistake I did....a life lived in fear is a life half-lived." Truly uplifting to the spirit & heart!


My anti-depressant   June 7, 2003
22 out of 22 found this review helpful

Okay, maybe that's an overstatement, but the first time I watched this movie, I checked it out of the library. I was a recently divorced single parent of two, struggling with a house note and bills I couldn't pay. On this particular day, I was fighting a bad cold, and feeling generally tired and unhappy. I took this movie out based only on the "Two Thumbs Up" recommendation of Siskel & Ebert at the bottom of the case. After viewing this film, I felt energized and full of good humor. I eventually bought it and have shared it with my mom, sister, kids, friends, and new husband. They all loved it! Where do I start? 1. The performances. Everyone in this movie is wonderful. They are believable and credible even though the material is completely over the top so much of the time. I love these people. 2. Then there's the romance. The main love story is very sweet, but all throughout the film, you feel like romance is literally in the air. It's also amazing how much sensuality is conveyed without any overt sexuality. 3. The dancing. I never gave ballroom dancing a thought until I saw this movie. Now, I love watching it. 4. The family relationships. They may seem unbelievable, but that mother is all too familiar to me. 5. Paul Mercurio--he's hot! Enough said.

This movie is funny, touching, and like nothing I've ever seen before or since. I can't even compare it to anything else. I'm happy to see how favorably other people have reviewed it.