Come Dance with Me

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.

I loved this movie. I felt Andrew McCarthy and Michelle Nolden had such chemistry. The music drew me in! I don't understand the reviews saying it was boring. Yes, Andrew McCarthy is much older than Michelle, but he's a classic and I don't notice the age difference. I wish Hallmark would play this movie again at Christmas but they don't so I bought the movie so I can watch anytime I want, which if I do!!

Christmas Dance (or Come Dance With Me) came along before the mass proliferation of "big company buys up blocks to destroy forcing out long-term small family business". So watching it now it looks like the same old tired story, but when it came out it was a relatively new trope.

It also came out when Hallmark was routinely using some bigger name actors in these movies, and Andrew McCarthy does a fine job as a rising businessman who finds himself suddenly in the midst of a moral dilemma.

What starts out as dance classes in the block he's financing the deal to tear down turns into a sweet budding romance and a hidden identity story. The conflict of love versus money never looks like a real conflict, but you'll enjoy the movie anyway. We're up for repeating viewings, but with a few years in between.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THAT PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE ABOUT THESE FILMS.

This film is a winner. This gets played during Christmas time on the Hallmark Channel because it takes place during Christmas however the setting might worked better if it took place on Valentines Day. Regardless the film is a HUGEbJOY. Its very romantic with a nice pace. On top of that it has a story that pulls on your heartstrings with a message of "Love May Not Conquer All" but when you are in love life means more.

In this film Jack (Andrew McCarthy) is an executive in a financial brokerage firm trying to impress the firm's president, Drew Clayton (Chris Gillett), in hopes of a promotion. However, Jack is dating the fabulously rich and elegant Demi Clayton (Stephanie Mills), who happens to be Drew's daughter. Although Demi's mother Clarisse (Jane Moffat) doesn't necessarily approve of Jack and would prefer her daughter to date a man within their social circle, Jack still plans on proposing. Trying to create the perfect proposal, Jack signs up for dance lessons in preparation for his proposal to Demi at her father's lavish annual Christmas Dance. But when sparks start to fly between Jack and his dance instructor, Christine (Michelle Nolden), Jack will have to make some important decisions before it is too late.

"Come Dance With Me" again is not a typical Christmas movie. Its not about "Orphans" or "Santa". Its about a man deciding on what he truly wants in life.

I will watch it again. I am still smiling thinking about the film!

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.