Love N' Dancing

Last updated
Love 'N' Dancing
Love n dancing.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Robert Iscove
Written by Tom Malloy
Produced bySamuel Benedict
Starring Amy Smart
Tom Malloy
Billy Zane
CinematographyFrank Byers
Edited byCasey O. Rohrs
Music byMatt Seigel
Distributed by Screen Media Films
Release date
  • April 2, 2009 (2009-04-02)(Phoenix Film Festival)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Love 'N' Dancing is a 2009 American romantic drama film about a couple who take part in a competition in the world of swing dancing. The film was directed by Robert Iscove, and stars Amy Smart, Tom Malloy (who also wrote the film), and Billy Zane. Jeff Bihlman and Scot Bihlman (The Bihlman Brothers) contributed seven original songs to the film's soundtrack. Love 'N' Dancing garnered negative reviews from critics.

Contents

Plot

Jessica Donovan is engaged to workaholic Kent and they decide to take dancing classes for their wedding. However, Kent is so busy with his work that he misses all of the lessons. Jessica, however, develops a liking for dancing, and ultimately, for the dance teacher Jake. Jake is deaf (he uses hearing aids) but is a two-time former US Open Swing Dancing Champion. His former partner Corrine is now a judge in the Open Tournaments. Jake and Corrine also have a history as they were engaged but Corrine cheated on him which ultimately led to their break up.

With every lesson, Jessica's interest in both dancing and Jake increases dramatically. At the same time, her fiancé's behaviour becomes unpleasant; partly because she is too busy to cook at home, and partly because he is jealous that she spends too much time dancing with Jake.

Jessica shows both skill and talent; Jake asks her to participate in the National Open Swing competition. This leads to more unpleasantness between her and Kent and eventually she breaks up with him. Jake and Jessica also realize they have great chemistry and finally express their feelings for another just before it is time to participate in the competition.

At the competition, Corrine is on the panel of judges for this dance. Jake and Jessica manage to dance well and avoid the post-performance bickering of many of the other couples. A series of "where are they now" titles then reveals the future trajectories of the major characters.

Cast

Background

On May 9, 2007, Amy Smart joined the project with production starting on July 16 at Albuquerque, New Mexico. [1] On March 23, 2009, Screen Media Films acquired the film's distribution rights. [2]

Response

Box office

The film didn't perform well at the box office due to its widest release in very few theaters, earning $47,812 in domestic theaters and $26,036 from foreign theaters. The film grossed $73,848 worldwide.

Critical reception

Love N' Dancing received mostly negative reviews from the critics. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 17% based on twelve reviews, with an average rating of 3.3/10. [3] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 43 out of 100, based on four critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [4]

Peter Debruge of Variety wrote that: "Malloy's chemistry-killing additions to the proven formula push the experience toward mawkishness when the otherwise by-the-numbers pic means to be inspirational, limiting interest in this low-budget indie to the apologetically sincere or ironically inclined." [5] Paste contributor Sean Gandert criticized the "impossibly lazy and clichéd" story and Iscove for putting more focus on shooting the "admittedly alluring dance sequences" than constructing something "perfunctory" for the rest of the film, concluding that "a few pretty dances aren't enough substance to make for a fulfilling, or even moderately entertaining movie when the rest of the material is so weak." [6] Chuck Wilson of LA Weekly commended Smart for bringing a spark to this "amiably dull dance drama" and the "terrific numbers" but criticized Iscove for keeping a "coolly professional distance" from the dancers and diminishing their chemistry. [7] Robert Abele of the Los Angeles Times wrote that despite Smart and Malloy's character arcs and the "nicely done twirl-and-dip sections" by Robert Royston, he felt it was "pretty unremarkable stuff", concluding that "with by-the-numbers characters and a woefully predictable script, you'll mostly be tapping your feet as a waiting measure for the next time "Love N' Dancing" needs two people to step out on the floor." [8] In a 2019 retrospective review, Janelle Tipton of Backstage commended Smart and Malloy's "charm and chemistry" for going through "contrived plot points and clunky obligatory dialogue for believability", the supporting performances of Zane and Rhea, and Iscove's filmmaking showing restraint in doing "flashy camerawork" with the dance scenes, concluding that: "Love N' Dancing tries for offbeat and thus generates moments of unexpected humor, but it doesn't have quite enough quirk to work. Nor is the terpsichorean talent enough to recommend it." [9]

Amy Smart was nominated for Choice Movie Actress: Music/Dance at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards for her work in the film, but ultimately lost to Miley Cyrus for Hannah Montana: The Movie . [10] [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Hot Chick</i> 2002 film by Tom Brady

The Hot Chick is a 2002 American fantasy comedy film directed by Tom Brady, from a screenplay by Brady and Rob Schneider, and starring Schneider, Anna Faris, Matthew Lawrence, Eric Christian Olsen, and Rachel McAdams in her film debut. The film follows Jessica Spencer (McAdams), a mean-spirited cheerleader who switches bodies with incompetent criminal Clive Maxtone (Schneider). When Jessica discovers that the switch was caused by a pair of enchanted earrings she had stolen, one of which accidentally ended up in Clive's possession, she enlists the help of her friends to get the earrings back together before the switch becomes permanent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Zane</span> American actor (born 1966)

William George Zane Jr. is an American actor. His breakthrough role was in the 1989 Australian film Dead Calm, a performance that earned him a nomination for the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actor. He has since appeared in numerous films and television series, notably playing the main antagonist Caledon Hockley in the epic romance disaster film Titanic (1997), for which he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Jessica Brooke Capshaw is an American actress known for her roles as Jamie Stringer on the ABC legal drama series The Practice, and as Dr. Arizona Robbins on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Smart</span> American actress (born 1976)

Amy Lysle Smart is an American actress. Her first role in film was in Martin Kunert's anthology horror film Campfire Tales, followed by a minor part in Starship Troopers, directed by Paul Verhoeven. In 1998, Smart played a role in Dee Snider's Strangeland. She garnered widespread recognition after appearing in the mainstream teen drama Varsity Blues (1999), as well as for a recurring role as Ruby on the television series Felicity (1999–2001). Next was a lead role in the college sex comedy Road Trip (2000); she was a co-star in Jerry Zucker's ensemble comedy Rat Race (2001). She had a lead role opposite Ashton Kutcher in the sci-fi drama The Butterfly Effect (2004).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Leonard</span> American musician, producer (born 1956)

Patrick Ray Leonard is an American songwriter, keyboardist, film composer, and music producer, best known for his longtime collaboration with Madonna. His work with Madonna includes her albums True Blue (1986), Who's That Girl (1987), Like a Prayer (1989), I'm Breathless (1990) and Ray of Light (1998). He scored Madonna's 2008 documentary I Am Because We Are, played keyboards with her at Live Aid (1985), and was musical director and keyboardist on The Virgin Tour (1985) and the Who's That Girl World Tour (1987).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Poehler</span> American actress and comedian (born 1971)

Amy Poehler is an American actress and comedian. After studying improv at Chicago's Second City and ImprovOlympic in the early 1990s, Poehler co-founded the improvisational-comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade. The group moved to New York City in 1996, where their act became a half-hour sketch-comedy series on Comedy Central in 1998. Along with other members of the comedy group, Poehler is a founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

<i>Shes All That</i> 1999 film by Robert Iscove

She's All That is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film directed by Robert Iscove. It stars Freddie Prinze Jr., Rachael Leigh Cook, Matthew Lillard, and Paul Walker. After being dumped by his girlfriend, Zack Siler boasts he could make any girl at his high school popular. It is a modern adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion and George Cukor's 1964 film My Fair Lady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Welling</span> American actor, podcaster, director, and model, (born 1977)

Thomas "Tom" Joseph Welling is an American actor, director, producer, podcaster, and model. He is best known for his role as Clark Kent in The WB superhero drama Smallville (2001–2011). He also co-starred in the third season of Fox fantasy comedy-drama Lucifer as Lt. Marcus Pierce/Cain (2017–2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise</span> Musical artist

Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise (RBBS) was an American band from Detroit, Michigan. The group was a collaboration between Robert Bradley and three other rock musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Adams</span> American actress (born 1974)

Amy Lou Adams is an American actress. Known for both her comedic and dramatic roles, she has been featured three times in annual rankings of the world's highest-paid actresses. She has received various accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards, and has been nominated for six Academy Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

<i>Boys and Girls</i> (2000 film) 2000 American film by Robert Iscove

Boys and Girls is a 2000 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Iscove and starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Claire Forlani, Jason Biggs, and Amanda Detmer. The film follows Ryan (Prinze) and Jennifer (Forlani), who meet each other initially as adolescents, and later realize that their lives are intertwined through fate.

Robert Iscove is a Canadian film and television director, television producer and a choreographer.

<i>Disaster Movie</i> 2008 American superhero comedy film

Disaster Movie is a 2008 American parody film written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer and produced by Peter Safran, Friedberg, and Seltzer. It stars Matt Lanter, Vanessa Minnillo, Gary "G Thang" Johnson, Crista Flanagan, Nicole Parker, Ike Barinholtz, Carmen Electra, Tony Cox, and Kim Kardashian in her feature film debut. It was released on August 29, 2008, by Lionsgate. The film is mainly a parody of the disaster film genre, although it also references many other films, TV shows, people, and pop culture events of the time.

<i>Piranha 3D</i> 2010 film by Alexandre Aja

Piranha 3D is a 2010 American 3D horror comedy film that serves as a remake of the comedy horror film Piranha (1978) and an entry in the Piranha film series. Directed by Alexandre Aja and written by Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg, the film stars Elisabeth Shue, Adam Scott, Jerry O'Connell, Ving Rhames, Jessica Szohr, Steven R. McQueen, Christopher Lloyd and Richard Dreyfuss. During spring break on Lake Victoria, a popular waterside resort, an underground tremor releases hundreds of prehistoric, carnivorous piranhas into the lake. Local cop Julie Forester must join forces with a band of unlikely strangers—though they are badly outnumbered—to destroy the ravenous creatures before everyone becomes fish food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Malloy</span> American actor

Thomas John Malloy is an American actor and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. He starred in Gravesend (1996), The Alphabet Killer (2008), Love N' Dancing (2009), and Ask Me to Dance (2022), and television shows, including Law & Order, Third Watch, and Kidnapped.

<i>Bad Teacher</i> 2011 film by Jake Kasdan

Bad Teacher is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Jake Kasdan and written by the writing team of Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky. Starring Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Lucy Punch, John Michael Higgins, and Jason Segel, the film tells the story of a middle school teacher who hates her job, her students, and her co-workers, but returns to teaching after her wealthy fiancé breaks up with her.

<i>Crazy, Stupid, Love</i> 2011 film by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a 2011 American romantic comedy film directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, written by Dan Fogelman and starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, John Carroll Lynch, Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon.

<i>Dirty Dancing</i> (2017 film) 2017 American TV series or program

Dirty Dancing is a 2017 American television film directed by Wayne Blair and written by Jessica Sharzer. It is a made-for-TV musical remake of the 1987 film of the same name, and serves as an installment in the titular franchise. The film stars Abigail Breslin, Colt Prattes, Debra Messing, Bruce Greenwood, Sarah Hyland, Nicole Scherzinger and Tony Roberts. It aired on May 24, 2017, on ABC. In its original broadcast, the film was seen by 6.61 million viewers with a 1.4 Nielsen rating in the 18-49 age demographic and a 5 share.

<i>A Kid Like Jake</i> 2018 film by Silas Howard

A Kid Like Jake is a 2018 American drama film directed by Silas Howard and written by Daniel Pearle, based on his own 2013 play of the same name. It stars Claire Danes, Jim Parsons, Priyanka Chopra, Amy Landecker, Ann Dowd, and Octavia Spencer. It follows a married couple struggling to navigate their roles as parents to a gender-nonconforming child.

<i>Booksmart</i> 2019 film by Olivia Wilde

Booksmart is a 2019 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by Olivia Wilde and written by Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman. It stars Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever as two graduating high school girls who set out to finally break the rules and party on their last day of classes. Jessica Williams, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, and Jason Sudeikis also star.

References

  1. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (May 9, 2007). "Smart joins Malloy in swing dance romance Love N Dancing". Screen Daily . Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  2. ↑ Thielman, Sam (March 23, 2009). "Screen Media Films loves 'Dancing'". Variety . Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Love N' Dancing (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Love N' Dancing Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  5. ↑ Debruge, Peter (May 7, 2009). "Love N' Dancing". Variety. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  6. ↑ Gandert, Sean (June 17, 2009). "Love N' Dancing". Paste . Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  7. ↑ L.A. Weekly Film Critics (May 6, 2009). "Movie Reviews: Adoration, Julia, Little Ashes, Revanche". LA Weekly . Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  8. ↑ Abele, Robert (May 8, 2009). "'Dancing' tripped up by dialogue" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  9. ↑ Tipton, Janelle (November 5, 2019). "Love N' Dancing". Backstage . Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Teen Choice Awards 2009 nominees". Los Angeles Times. June 15, 2009. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Teen Choice Awards winners". USA Today . August 10, 2009. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.