Do You Wanna Dance?

Although Bob may feel that Father Chris is a stereotypical name for a Greek priest, that name was used because Father Chris is a real person. As a matter of fact Father Chris is my wife's uncle.

This movie is based on the real story of the friendship between Father Chris and Bob Krantz. While the events in this movie took place several years ago, and Bob and his family have since moved out of Chicago, he and Father Chris still are very close, and see each other several times a year.

The use of the Chicago Greek Community as a background was not intended to provide a "touch of novelty". That is the community in which the real story took place. Chicago's Greektown is less than a mile from the church where Father Chris serves as pastor.

Despite Bob's feeling that the movie was sophomoric, I can assure him that the people and places portrayed in the movie are real.

I was disappointed with this movie. The acting was horrible. Based on the movie title I figured they would have had better dancers. I think Robert krantz auditioned for Footloose or Cocktail and obviously didn't get the part. Instead he retaliated by finding a true story and made himself the main character. Harsh? No, the truth hurts.

I enjoyed this movie thoroughly. It caught my attention because I am a ballroom and swing dancer. I loved the dance scenes, the Greek cultural parts (especially the dancing) and seeing Father Chris stand up against the bullies. I could watch it again because there were no ugly scenes or language and the message was meaningful.

I always find it encouraging and refreshing to see a film whose purpose is to uplift its audience and remind us that there is a lot of good and a lot of innocence left in the world. Having seen this film at a local festival (at which the author appeared), I was enthusiastic about the subject matter and the message. I also enjoy supporting the independent filmmaker.

For these reasons, the movie was all the more disappointing. Characters were superficially developed, and the messages, as well as the dialogue, seemed trite and simplistic. From time to time, these tendencies became so exaggerated that I felt a bit embarrassed for the actors. And despite his best efforts, I had difficulty shaking Robert Costanzo's (as Father Chris) history of portraying thugs and Mafia caricatures. Even the name "Father Chris" became distracting -- could we possibly have found a more stereotypical name for a Greek priest?

"Do You Wanna Dance" tried hard to bring a tear to my eye. Call me cynical, but the film only succeeded in bringing a smirk to my face.

Wouldn't have been so harsh as Bob but find it hard to disagree with him. Except that the credits do list a real Father Chris as technical advisor. The modern dancing was good though distractingly overprofessional (the dance teacher kept looking amazed; rightly so), the tired plot where the kid with a scrappy background needs to win the overprotected girl despite her parents' opposition and her betrothal to a jerk... well, that's an embarrassment though using the Greek community as background gave the opportunity for a touch of novelty. The Greek music and dancing were well used.