Breaking Legs

There is an interesting phenomenon in TV today. Even the best shows, the ones with the highest ratings and reviews, tend to stumble and fall in the 3th or 4th season. It is almost as if the original writers, when the show was being created, stored only enough story arcs to hum through the first two seasons, but then season 3 arrives ... and there is no gas in the tank.

I mention this because normally, for A-list productions from the major studios and networks, there is really no "film equivalent" for this phenomenon, since the A-listers usually have considerable checks and balances built-in to their systems, so that a script does not get green-lighted unless it is 100% ready.

Which brings us to Breaking Legs, an indie written and directed by young auteur Mark Marchillo. The first 15 minutes or so are a nice setup, promising the audience a cross between MEAN GIRLS, FLASHDANCE, and FOOTLOOSE. But those promises are never kept.

After the setup, and for the rest of the over-long and disjointed, helter-skelter, film, dialog goes in strange and unpredictable directions; the characters behave out-of-character; the viewer has trouble keeping track of who is doing what to whom; and the film in general becomes tedious and vexing.

Newcomer Liv Southard does a nice job of trying (emphasize "trying") to be the "glue" for the film and maintain interest, but she is fighting the script and director every step of the way down the elevator shaft.

And Chris Kattan's character is so horrifically written (he comes across more as an autistic stalker than a parental figure) that one cannot blame the actor alone for the end result.

Breaking Legs is such a fun, heartwarming film that you can't pass on! From the dance scenes to the high school drama, this film captures the truth of growing up as a young teen dreaming of a what seems unreachable in a world full of bitter disappointments. The story is told in an upbeat, quirky way that you'll find yourself wanting to get up and dance your heart out no matter what. Don't even get me started on how hilarious Chris Kattan was in this alongside the talented Mark Marchillo who wrote, directed and starred in this beautiful dance of human and visual art! I couldn't stop laughing, gasping and wanting to Dance!

I thought this movie was a lot of fun. The actors were really funny, and the kids - I was impressed with their performances, which is not often said of child actors. I really believed them, and the adults were insanely quirky and hilarious. All I have to say is, poor Miss Tarble. There are a lot of fun moments here, and there's a lot of heart. Reminded me of those old dance movies from the 80's where the dancing actually took a backseat to the plot of the film, which helps me get into it a little bit more. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes 80's flicks, dance movies, and definitely to those out there who love high school movies. This one's for you!

The high reviews here have to come from relatives of the people in this movie. No one else could give this movie a 10.

This movie was filled to the brim with clichés, A girl with no parents who has a dream, Check. A mean, bratty girl who is jealous, check. A boy who is in love with bratty girl, who then falls in love with protagonist, check. Quirky, idiotic sidekick, Check. It's just like every other teen movie out there, it started well but just completely fell apart, with no real resolution or plot, don't waste your time.