Set in the world of competitive ballroom dancing, this debut feature from Baz Luhrmann follows the trials and tribulations of a younger dancer set on winning a major competition by using his own, unconventional dance moves. The film gets off to a very promising start with humorous character interviews inserted in and around the protagonist's first attempt to impress a panel of judges by dancing his own style at the last minute; the glittery ballroom costumes are also impressive right from the very first scene. As the film progresses though, any initial zany humour soon dissipates, and while kooky touches can still be found (comical extreme close-up shots), the story gradually settles into a rather conventional story of overcoming the odds. The young dancer also gets a new ballroom partner who is a bit too much of a classical underdog. She is a dowdy immigrant with less than perfect skin and thick glasses, but it is of course nothing that a makeover cannot fix as she soon becomes a good-looking star. To the film's credit though, it is never once boring even when the story sags. The choreography is often spectacular, the film rocks to an excellent sourced song soundtrack, and the supporting cast give it all they have got, especially Bill Hunter - best remembered as the title character's father in 'Muriel's Wedding'. Those deterred by Luhrmann's flashiness in his better known films may also be impressed with how restrained his directing hand here is, while at the same time there is enough razzle-dazzle to appease those who love that sort of thing.
Review of Strictly Ballroom
