Save the Last Dance
reviewed by Lynn Barker
Ballet and hip-hop, Black and White, inner city and small
town all merge in this gritty, romantic dance drama that
has it all "goin' on". "Save the Last Dance" is about two
people and two cultures dancing around each other until
they can reach some kind of "comfort zone" that allows everyone
to thrive.
Small town, white, middle-class SARA JOHNSON (Julia Stiles)
dreams of devoting her life to ballet and attending school
at Julliard until a personal tragedy makes her decide never
to dance again. Her mother's death forces her to move to
inner city Chicago to live with her club musician dad, ROY
(Terry Kinney) and attend an almost all black high school
where she struggles to fit in. Sara is befriended by CHENILLE
(Kerry Washington) a black, unwed teenage mother who helps
her fit in.
At first, Sara doesn't like smart and somewhat cocky DEREK
(Sean Patrick Thomas) but learns that they both love dance,
although his choice is hip-hop. Derek shows her some moves
and dancing leads to romancing. At first, Sara's dad doesn't
accept her hooking up with Derek. Chenille's friends, especially
Derek's ex-g.f. NIKKI (Bianca Lawson), hate the idea of
a white girl moving in on one of the most desirable guys
in school. Derek's boyhood friend, a gang-banger named MALAKAI
(Fredro Starr), sees Derek, who is headed for Georgetown
University, being pulled away from him. All the controversy
almost destroys the young couple's relationship.
When Sara plans to try out for Julliard for a second time
and Malakai asks Derek to "watch his back" against some
rival, drive-by shooters, the culture clash is almost too
much for the young lovers to survive.
"Save the Last Dance" is a 21st century version of all
those cool '70's and '80's dance movies like "Saturday Night
Fever", "Dirty Dancing", Urban Cowboy", "Footloose" and
"Flashdance". It's great to see this tried and true combination
of dance and troubled romance come back to the screen. The
added element of inter-racial and inter-cultural conflict
only makes the story more interesting. It's also gratifying
to see that the Sara character isn't snobbish or afraid
of her new inner-city surroundings. She's just intimidated
because all these kids are so much "cooler" than she is.
The contrast between gang banger Malakai's "shooter" lifestyle
and Derek's upstanding, bound-for-college path is laid on
a little thickly but the focus is on the Romeo-Juliet romance
and Stiles and Thomas are great together. Supporting actors
are really believable too; especially Kerry Washington as
struggling single mom Chenille and rap artist Fredro Starr
as Malakai. Choreography by Fatima (hip-hop) and Randy Duncan
(ballet) deserves a nod. This movie has a slammin' soundtrack.
Rated PG-13 Opens January 12
Directed by: Thomas Carter ("Swing Kids")
Screenplay by: Duane Adler and Cheryl Edwards from
a story by Adler Starring: Julia Stiles as Sara Johnson
Sean Patrick Thomas as Derek
Kerry Washington as Chenille
Fredro Starr as Malakai
Bianca Lawson as Nikki
Official website www.savethelastdance.com
