Square Dance (1987) User Reviews

Hard to change

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 22 August 2013]

Square Dance is a film short on plot, but long on character, kind of like an O'Neil work of which one of the stars here Jason Robards, Jr., is most familiar. A lot of the hopelessness of Eugene O'Neil is prominent among these people.

If there's a lesson to be learned it's that we make our life choices early and it's hard to change. Jason Robards is a hardbitten old man who has a few acres of farm land on which he raises his granddaughter Winona Ryder who is a most naive young girl having drunk fully from the teachings of the fundamentalist church they belong to.

It was her mother who after she had Ryder left home. Now however Jane Alexander is married to Guich Koock who owns a service station and has come back for Ryder.

Jane and Gooch live in Fort Worth and the relative sophistication of Fort Worth is too much for Ryder. She forms a friendship with Rob Lowe who is cast in the most offbeat role of his career, a good looking but developmentally disabled young man. He has a gift for music and plays the violin strictly by ear.

Simply what happens is that Alexander and Ryder are just too different to get along. And her relationship with Lowe ends in a near tragedy.

In his recent memoir Rob Lowe says he took the part to extend his range and show he is more than capable of being the Eighties 'It' boy as he described himself. Square Dance may have been the first time he's attempted a broadening of the range, but in the years since he's not been a teen heart throb, he's met a number of acting challenges successfully.

Ryder was all innocence and shine in Square Dance which was her breakthrough part as well. In fact the whole ensemble performed well in this most unknown of Rob Lowe films.

Lacking direction

[AmigaJay · 6/10 · 16 August 2022]

The only Winona Ryder film to elude me trying to buy a US import in the UK in the early 90s, and after watching for the first time a couple of decades later it was such a shame it has taken me this long to finally achieve this.

Whilst Lucas may have been WR's film debut, this film takes her to another level in her first starring role and opens up the door to the rest of her career.

The film is very slow paced with no real direction or much of a story other than moving from one place and back again, it feels almost depressing knowing she will probably end up their for the rest of her life in her final destination.

But saying that it's still enjoyable for the most part, with some great acting from all the lead characters especially Winona, but the film is lacking that certain something and its not a film i will return to very often.

A little insider info from one of the actors in this film.

[Jdmoeller · 8/10 · 6 March 2006]

Greetings, readers. I played Dub Mosely, the preacher in this film. I thought you might like to read a few notes about Winona, who was around 15 at the time we shot this on a sweltering summer day in Waxahatchie,Texas. I have met few young women of her age with the poise and sophistication she possessed. Working with her and Jane Alexander was truly a learning experience and a wonderful one. Although I didn't have scenes with Rob Lowe, I'm proud to have been in this film with him. His portrayal of the young violinist was astounding. I have never seen him do better work, either before or after.

Now, here's a little inside stuff. After we shot the film, Daniel Petrie, the director, found that my southern accent wasn't broad enough. He and I discussed the situation after the film was cut and I explained my thoughts as to the reason I kept the "twang" to a minimum: It was at the time of Southern preacher Jimmy Swaggart's problems with a woman of -shall we say- easy virtue, and my characterization was founded on the feeling that "sounding" like that sort of a preacher might remind the audience of Swaggart's indiscretions and they could maybe "lose their concentration" on the film and,instead, wander to thoughts of the current events of the day, making it difficult to get back into the film at hand.

Petrie had actually booked me to fly from Texas to Los Angeles to re-voice the role in the required accent. Naturally, I would do anything he wanted -he was the director and it was his film. Unfortunately I was performing in a stage production in the Houston area at the time and could not make the scheduled taping session. Another actor was flown in and the part was, indeed, re-dubbed.

Petrie didn't like what he heard, evidently, and decided to stick with my original voice and accent. As a result, what you hear is my original interpretation. Actually, you hear me more than you see me. That's my voice over the shot of the radio during the opening moments of the film. And, don't blink during the revival scene. That's your's truly at the pulpit.

I don't know if they'll let me cross-recommend here, but if you want to see more of me check out "They Still Call Me Bruce" and "Not For Publication".

I hope you enjoy "Square Dance". It is definitely worth your time and should be in your home library, if only for Winona's and Rob's portrayals.

Good movie good cast.

[Colin748 · 8/10 · 6 July 2000]

Square Dance had a great cast and great acting, which helped make it's story more alive.Some parts were slow but over all it was a good movie.Throughout the movie I was impressed to see that Lowe could be a good actor.All those true Romance fans will love this one.Square Dance was also Ryder's first staring role.

A favourite from childhood

[cinnamonkisses98 · 9/10 · 1 April 2020]

Loved this movie as a teen! My cousin and I still quote it often. It's not out of the ordinary at all for us to yell across the room "first you take the shicken and you wash em" or "I think you do! I think you do in a shicken casherole" Rob Lowe and Winona Ryder are phenomenal!

Hidden Gem

[Mister_Gordon_Shumway · 10/10 · 3 December 2007]

Anyone who is of the opinion that Rob Lowe comes across as being 'dull' on screen, or perhaps 'just a pretty face', should take time out to watch 'Square Dance'. His 'Golden Globe nominated performance' was justly deserved for his portrayal of the 'mentally-impaired man-child', Rory.

There are some films watched during your childhood or teenage years that have a profound effect on you and, for me, 'Square Dance' is one such film. It is nice to see it released on DVD format so promptly.

Lowe skillfully plays the role of Rory, eliciting what can only be described as an emotional reaction from myself and, I'm sure, many others who have watched this heart-warming drama. It is roles like this and his portrayal of deaf mute, Nick Andros, in Stephen King's 'The Stand' that substantiate Lowe's talent and versatility as an actor.

'Square Dance' also features Winona Ryder in her acclaimed screen debut as Gemma, a 13-year old girl tired of living in Texas with her quarrelsome grandfather (Jason Robards), and who decides to go live with her mother (Jane Alexander) in Fort Worth. Whilst there, Gemma falls in love with Rory. She also discovers some hidden truths about her mother and the father she has never met. Life in Fort Worth turns out to be not as exciting and uncomplicated as she had initially expected.

Critically acclaimed, 'Square Dance' is an emotional drama that will remain with you forever.

Matthew J Lee-Williams, Review.

love it

[blackstonmichael · 9/10 · 10 November 2008]

a couple of years ago bought square dance at a video store on VHS and watched the movie from start to finish and i have to say this movie is very good but very underrated. let's start with the film debut of wynonna rider. i thought her film debut was very astonishing and to be considered a promising actress in that decade which she continued to promise more great performances up until her arrest for shoplifting years ago.

Jane Alexander and Jason robards were very affective in this film. last but not least rob Lowe's performance.

let's start by saying that his performance was very underrated however was nominated for a golden globe, i thought he should of got an Oscar nomination for his role as mentally in-pair gema now that's the hardest role Lowe has ever taken on. if you can find this movie on VHS or DVD go buy it!!!1

A most introspective film.

[mark.waltz · 8/10 · 22 April 2021]

When you have talents like Jane Alexander, Winona Ryder, Jason Robards and Rob Lowe, you better have a good script because the words coming out of their mouth will reveal the truth. Ryder plays a young country girl from Texas who all of a sudden finds her long lost mother, Alexander, and after an argument with her grandfather Robards moves to Fort Worth to be with her. While she tries to maintain a Christian life, she's rather put off by her mother's free spirit and tries to bring Christianity to her which succeeds only moderately. Then comes along Rob Lowe, a sweet developmentally disabled young man, joyfully happy one moment and sad the next which makes him pull out his violin, a cure for a tortured soul.

For anybody who was ever doubted the talents of Lowe, all they need to do is see this movie, a Golden Globe nominated performance that is as thought-provoking and profound as what Leonardo DiCaprio would do later and What's Eating Gilbert Grape". He is a character that you fear for, that one wrong move will result in tragedy. When Ryder starts to square dance with him, he all of a sudden pulls away and reaches for his violin, and the change in his mood and demeanor really touches the soul of the viewer and brings out that fear all the more.

This was early in the career of Winona Ryder, and shows the powerhouse she already was as an actress and would become with later even more intense roles. You see every aspect of that character, tortured by the thoughts of a father she did not know, a mother she hardly knows, a stepfather she tries to accept but quickly comes to abhor, and a grandfather who only did right for her, and doesn't get he appreciation he deserves.

Don't expect a strong, linear story, just a series of related events and various character studies a very troubled people where perhaps being in the mind of Lowe is the only cure for a horrible world that these people have found themselves living in. Ryder gets to find out the real meaning of a balanced life as she sees the real world outside of the country in a way that disgusts her, realizing that most people can't live in the confines of a chaste life when there are so many temptations around and few answers.

Alexander, who could have been in the equivalent of Barbara Stanwyck or Jane Wyman with her ability to really draw you into her need to create real characters (without the dramatic trappings of other legendary actresses), gets to be both sinner and saint, attempting to be a good mother but too sexually free to let that side of her life go, and you can't take your eyes off her.

Robards doesn't have as much to do, but he is powerful and commanding and dynamic. He's played a variety of strong fathers and grandfathers before and after this, but he really gives this one a different type of compassion, and you think of him throughout the film when he is not there. It's the power of an excellent script, good direction and these excellent performances that makes you able to accept the fact that the story is minimal, and you end up rooting for these characters to find their way. That is what makes brilliant drama and why this sleeper film that did not do well in its initial release deserves to be discovered.

Square Dance Is Lovely

[Vertigo-27 · 3 August 2000]

Square Dance, a near unknown film (probably because it is violentless) is actually a nice feel-good movie. The best thing about this movie is the acting, Lowe especially... in a enduring performance. Noted mainly because of Ryder's first film, whom is also great (as usual). The only bad thing about this film is what can be expected... it is rather slow at times, and yet still seems to leave loose ends. But it is very much rewarding with a nice ending and notable symbolism of the actual square dances, which leads Ryder back home.

This was filmed in Fort Worth, Texas, maybe some in Waxahachi?

[quecois · 10/10 · 3 July 2017]

So sorry to correct Mr. Moeller, but this was filmed in Fort Worth, Texas. I had always bragged about the Belknap Bridge on Belknap Street coming down from downtown at the end of it was where Winona got off from the bus. Then, she crossed over to the other side to the garage with the upstairs apartment where her mother lived with the boyfriend. The garage is still there, but I was sad to see the apartment knocked down. The beauty shop is still there that the mother had and the club is "The Stagecoach." This was filmed in the 2400 block of Belknap Street.

good, home kinda movie that has some very true and powerful points

[goblingal · 26 October 2004]

I like the movie but without saying too much to spoil it the scene with winona, rob and debi richter (if you watched the movie you know what scene) that one scene is a bit disturbing but other then that the movie is one of my faves. but to this day i can't watch debi richter in anything. I think winona portrayed a powerful performance with a character that is confused and lost on life, jason robards as the grandfather is very well portrayed, the setting i couldn't see it in any other setting besides Texas where it is set it seems to fit the movie and the atmosphere tremendously. rob lowe as a mentally retarted young man rounds the movie out very well as good as his portrayal in the outsiders 4 years earlier.