Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance

What a great little film....This won't win Oscars or any other film award, but it will make you chuckle at the characters some of whom we all know in real life. What parent hasn't had the (mis)fortune to be part of ballet classes, whether it be classical, modern, tap or contemporary. Every week the little darlings don their leotards and ballet shoes and go along and join their other little friends and teacher Miss Denise (an ageing, usually overweight woman who shouldn't really wear a body hugging anything, but does. Every week she puts the kiddies through their steps, until the dreaded "End of year Dance Extravaganza" arrives. Parents fork out a lot of money to put their kids through dance class, then more money on costumes, buying the DVD, buying the music etc...all for 3 minutes on stage. This movie looks at it all, with hilarious consequences. Starring some of the best performers in Australian theatre, TV, cabaret and movies. A must see....it's awesome!!!!!

Razzle Dazzle makes us laugh at ourselves. No really! Darren Ashton (director) chooses his feel-good mockumentary on competitive dance in Australia to show realistic characters. And the audience can't help but laugh at our immature look on life - our competitive nature! Kerry Armstrong and Ben Miller are wonderfully cast as pushy stage mum Justine and dance visionary Mr Jonathon. Quirky yet significant lines show what's really happening in the arts (both adult and child perspective). The film even makes a crack on the plight of Afghani women. This has to be one of the first films that has been able to make me laugh uncontrollably at some parts of the film and think and question the character of humanity in others. It revolves around family so basically is good for any age. It really is a journey on dance - from the beginning, we're all connected to the characters and we want Mr Jonathon's dance school to win. We watch their journey progress and fold. Loved every minute of it! Denise Roberts as Barbara was funny too. She was my fav. character!

Highly recommended! * * * * *

Regardless of tragedies happening globally our personal lives will always take precedence.

Disasters happen. Mayhem abounds. But stubbing your toe will supercede all. T'is part of the human condition.

In Razzle Dazzle, an excellent comedy, dance dominates the characters lives.

Their raison d'etre, their whole rationale, superficially presented as terpsichorean.

In truth, of course, there's far more involved - Egos, ambitions, needs and wants.

The setting's no more than a convenient device. We all take ourselves too seriously.

The deadpan delivery of patent absurdities. The self deception and lack of awareness.

All these conspire to raise a chuckle along with a certain empathic engagement.

You'll quickly forget it's a mocumentary. Mr. Jonathon's real - He's out there somewhere.

Names may change. Locations differ. A mirror might well prove useful.

What a terrific movie. An Aussie success. Kerry Armstrong deserves the highest accolades as do all the kids doing the dancing. Mister Jonathan may not get the top prize but he gets points for showing the audience that dance is not always a love story but can be used to convey the darker side of world issues. Passion is messy and cringing sometimes but the director and writers handle the edge between drive and madness with soft eyes.

Sydney film locations included a historic building in Parramatta and Justine's home in Northwest of Sydney. Unexpected bonus: Imagine my delight when I recognized Justine's home as one designed by friends - Indigo and Ochre, Architects based in Sydney. The slightly over the top house matched Justine's character perfectly.

This movie is definitely one of the best Australian movies in recent times. Kerry Armstrong's character of Justine will go down in Australian cinema history as one of the most memorable characters of all time, right up there with Babe, Picnic at Hanging Rock's Miranda, Mick Dundee, the drag queens from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Darryl Kerrigan. It is fantastic to see a good Australian comedy for a change, and even if this is not a box office smash, it will become one of those Australian movies which Australians love.

It is a perfect example of a great Aussie parody. It examines, in a humorous way, stage mothers at their worst. Everyone will love the antics of Justine and the other stage parents as they push their children to the limit.

This is one of those must watch movies that everyone should see!!!!