Just for fun

Just for fun

Strictly Ballroom
Directed by Baz Luhrman
Starring Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter
Reviewed by Lin Wolfe

Baz Luhrman's debut feature, despite a few rough edges, deserves to be picked up for wide commercial release. The plot may be light enough to blow away in a stiff breeze, but this is a warm romantic comedy, the type of old-fashioned feel good movie that has the audience leaving the theatre with smiles on their faces.

Scott Hastings (Sydney Dance Company's Paul Mercurio) has trained since the age of six to be a ballroom champion and looks a good chance for the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix. That is, until he incurs the ire of the Dance Federation's president Barry Fife (Bill Hunter) by — shock, horror — dancing his own steps! Dropped by his dancing partner, Scott begins to practise with beginner Fran (Tara Morice), who supports him in his ambition to dance from the heart, not the textbook.

Will our heroes triumph over the hidebound federation? Will the villains get their comeuppance? Of course they will; there's never any doubt. But with wonderfully over-the-top performances from veterans Bill Hunter, Barry Otto, Pat Thompson and Peter Whitford, engaging young leads and excellent dance sequences, it hardly matters that the outcome is wholly predictable.

The film was well received at Cannes this year and, if the reaction of the sometimes jaded Melbourne Film Festival crowd is any indication, it should do very well here. Strictly Ballroom is strictly for fun.

From GLW issue 60