athanass

"Let The Dance Begin" ... hmmm .. a comedy film where they forgot to bring the funnies.

The director and the writers need to explain what they thought they were doing. They either don't know anything about comedy, or they had a brain spasm.

The expression on the face of the male lead in the poster, gives more giggles than his entire performance in the movie. In many scenes, he has many perfect opportunities to create explosive laughter, but the script or direction did not allow this.

And there are indeed many threads that could easily be woven into a really funny movie, a fake funeral, a jealous wife, a playboy husband, an old affair, (No spoilers as the trailer shows this) but there are many other situations where the audience could be rolling in the aisles with laughter ... but NOPE.

European films can be hilariously funny ... this ain't one of them.

SEAL TEAM - a "Yippee Ki-ae" action show .. that slowly ... delicately ... exposes the raw heart of real people .. and we hardly know this is happening ... until it does.

SEAL TEAM is a show that charges into every possible world conflict you can imagine. We see weapons and tactics that will entice every computer gaming fan, we see sophisticated support systems that provide "overwatch" to the actions and we see the almost superhuman abilities of these highly trained individuals.

But peppered through these "Sgt Saunders" events, we also see:

• effects of PTS
• challenges of making and keeping personal relationships
• conflicts between political aims and strategic objectives
• the lives of veterans with severe injuries that do not appear until many years later
• how people cope with conflict within a team
• that leadership "can" be developed, but requires something special to excel
• what does someone do when they are no longer able to do the ONLY thing you have ever done their whole life
• what happens when someone gets ... old

SEAL TEAM is a gangbuster show about military engagements with people of ( insert military group of choice .. SAS - GREEN BERET , etc.) But it also exposes us to the softer, darker and more painful side of the "human face" that is often hidden behind all the guts and the glory. See less.

There are good things about this film. See it if you are looking for a light-hearted experience.

It shows some good parts of "assisted" marriage very well, while also acknowledging how these traditional practices are coming under stress by modern culture.

A BULLSEYE.

The line " .. it must start with a simmer .." is just beautiful.

Another BULLSEYE.

They started showing how the positive aspects of "assisted" partnering can be hugely beneficial in "Western" culture.

Another BULLSEYE.

I like the way the female character was portrayed as someone who chases career and recognition above all else, then suddenly looks at her life, and her thoughts go to other things. Something (I think) that resonates with much of modern western society.

Another BULLSEYE.

So the movie started to take me down a deep and sensitive path about relationships, family pressures and expectations, the clash of cultures, acceptance, risk and courage. The underlying concept that people will "grow into Love" ... as heralded by the title ... made me expect a particular kind of movie. Then it changed.

They took a "stock standard" turn and cover everything in sugar syrup, whipped cream and choc sprinkles that completely overturns the whole build up. A school child could have written the last 20 mins.

. Many people will love this film, and there are some really good parts. It opens a door of great possibility with potential riches of emotion, cultural stresses and conflict, and just takes a little peek inside.

I would love someone to make a movie where this door is thrown open with abandon. Until then, enjoy this little Rom-Com.