Come Dance with Me

Andrew McCarthy wants to marry the boss' daughter and secure his place in business. Her family has a tradition of ballroom dancing at Christmas. To impress her father and gain his approval, Andrew takes dancing lessons and falls in love with his instructor, Mary Long, in this superior Hallmark Christmas TV-movie.

Although the story sags occasionally from the minutiae of romantic comedy plotting, the heart of the movie, the self-realization that McCarthy comes to while learning how to dance and the growing relationship between him and his dancing partner is beautifully staged and performed, with a graceful camera caressing them as they move.

Howard Hawks was once asked how to make a great picture. He said "Three good scenes and no bad ones." This movie has those good scenes and more.

Andrew McCarthy, about 49 when this was filmed, is Jack. He is a financial guy working for a firm in the city and dating the big bosses daughter. Jack is a pretty traditional guy from Kansas originally, the daughter is quite different. She has no job and enjoys the fancy, some might say trivial, life with emphasis on friends and social media. It is hard to see them as a couple for the long haul.

However marrying the daughter would pretty well set him financially for life. The boss even tells him that in so many words. Jack needs to learn to dance so as not to embarrass himself at the yearly family Christmas dance so happens upon a small dance studio run by an attractive lady. We sense that, this being a Hallmark movie, in the long run she might be a more suitable love interest.

The lady has a big issue come up, a firm wants her out and Jack is the financial point man for the deal. But she doesn't want to give up her little studio, maybe Jack can help her?

While the story has a relatively predictable story arc it is fun to see how they get there. Some of the best scenes are the two of them dancing together. My wife and I enjoyed it at home on DVD from our public library.

The dance scenes are great and the story as well . I have watched this movie many times so that says something. The chemistry is fantastic between the two main players.

What an enjoyable movie. The characters were real, the story interesting and the chemistry between the two main characters was evident. I enjoyed the writing and the sets.

I enjoyed this movie very much and so did my wife. Its very romantic. The leading lady is very beautiful and moved gracefully. Perhaps the plot is nothing new but it worked for me. I also thought the lighting was very well done, especially in the dance studio scenes which certainly set the tone for the film. Andrew McCarthy is a fine actor and the movie suited his talents. There were times when things developed in a clumsy fashion but for the most part it sailed along in fine style. I'm not totally sure the chemistry between the two leads was dead on but the chemistry between me and Christine was awesome! This is a classy movie with a good cast and I give it a solid edge over most similar holiday fare...try it out!