Stepping Out

Every now and then, "Stepping Out" touches down on some heartfelt emotions that most viewers will relate to; whether it's Liza Minnelli's jerk of a boyfriend, her loyalty to her tap dance students or the anxieties within the group, the script is surprisingly evocative once it gets down to the heart of the matter (after cutting through the crap). There's a lot of dross filtering through here, too many stumble-bums and pratfalls that I assume are there to get laughs, but Liza is solid (as usual) and does a good job at keeping the picture on some form of realistic ground. The dancers are colorful and interesting, but Shelley Winters as the pianist on social security has a tough time portraying a ridiculous warhorse in silly hats. **1/2 from ****

Someone wrote that "Stepping Out" was mostly forgettable. I beg to differ. It is not really "mostly forgettable", just formulaic. BUT that is what I like about it. I like the old "Let's find a barn and put on a show" plots -- that's what I liked watching when I was growing up. So,"Stepping Out" is a great example of the genre. Liza shines -- good music, great dancing and seeing the incomparable Shelly Winters was a plus. Some of the supporting cast have moved up the ladder -- Jane Krakowski, Julie Walters, Bill Erwin, Sheila McCarthy, Andrea Martin, Robyn Stevan, Ellen Greene, Carol woods, Luke Reilly. I see their name in the credits and I remember what fun it is to watch "Stepping Out" again. It reminds me of the small dance studios all over the country. I should know -- I took a tap class at one.

Unless you're a huge Liza Minnelli fan, you might not be drawn to a movie whose synopsis is "Liza teaches a dance class to a group of beginners and they all learn about life." But take my unbiased recommendation: This movie is heartwarming, inspiring, and extremely fun. If you really hate dancing, then yes, shy away from it. But even if Cabaret isn't your favorite movie ever, there's a really good chance you'll love this one.

Based off a highly successful British play, the opening scene is a textbook "give everyone their entrance" scene which you can totally imagine on the stage. Meek Sheila McCarthy is extremely internal and clearly needs to "step out". Ellen Greene doesn't have much character development, but her fantastic figure is distracting enough to make the audience forget she even has a character. Andrea Martin is over-the-top in everything, even her sneezes. Bill Irwin is the only guy in the class, and he feels a bit awkward "stepping out" of his comfort zone, but he also enjoys getting a bit embarrassed. Jane Krakowski is a young nurse who's more sensitive than she lets on. Robyn Stevan wears great 1991 fashions, and she chews gum and flirts with every man in sight - despite having a husband. Carol Woods is frazzled and frumpy, but her enthusiasm makes up for her skills. Finally, there's a new student: Julie Walters. She is so adorable! I had no idea she could dance, but I also had no idea that she had such a fantastic figure when she was younger! In nearly every scene, she wears skintight bodysuits and prances around with her perfectly coiffed hair and sweet expressions. What an absolute doll! If you just think of her as Mrs. Weasley (like the rest of the under-40 crowd), you'll be shocked to see her in this.

A very enjoyable part of the movie is to see the journey of the students' talent. They start off the movie (and spend a great deal of it) as very backwards dancers. Their timing is off, they can't remember the steps, and one of them can't spin around in a circle without falling over. As you see from later on in the movie, they're all very accomplished dancers (or if you recognize names from the cast like Jane Krakowski and Ellen Greene, you already know they're dancers) so it's very cute to see them dummy-down their skills. And you can imagine how much fun they had pretending they couldn't dance!

Now for the teacher: Liza Minnelli really pulls out all the stops in this movie. You can see the many layers of emotion she feels while teaching beginners' tap when she was once a Broadway hopeful. She has dramatic acting when her personal life crumbles, and inspirational pizazz when getting her students prepared for a performance. Plus, she has a big solo number that really shows off her dancing talent!

Liza's faithful sidekick is the piano accompanist who is more than just a piano player (incidentally, sometimes she nods off during class). They have each other's backs and really care about each other outside of class. She's an older, frumpy, overweight lady whom I didn't even recognize until she started talking - but then again, I'm in the minority. Most people think of Shelley Winters as the frumpy frump in The Poseidon Adventure. I think of her as younger, slimmer, and far cuter, like in Frenchie and Playgirl. However, when you're a fan of someone, you're a fan no matter how old they get or how much weight they put on. I like Shelley, and I always will.

So, gather up a group of your girlfriends (and bring in one fellow for fun) and pop in Stepping Out for movie night. It's very enjoyable, and really makes you feel good. I'm looking forward to watching it time after time.

Mavis (Liza Minnelli) was a chorus line dancer on Broadway. Just as she was on the verge of getting more prominent roles, she fell in love. Her full-of-himself boyfriend moved them to Buffalo, far from the theater scene. As a musician, he plays with a band in the local clubs, often with the very talented Mavis singing at his elbow. But, they are just two bit players, mostly because of his total lack of ambition. On the side, Mavis runs a dance studio for ordinary folks. In her classes, among others, are a lovely nurse, a librarian, a lady with an overbearing husband, a lady with an unemployed son, a bossy middle aged housewife (Julie Walters) and a lone, divorced, very shy male. The studio pianist is a strong-willed senior (Shelley Winters). One day, a woman who operates a more prominent dance school in Buffalo invites Mavis and her class to perform a number in a charity dance recital. Mavis accepts. But, as total amateurs, will Mavis' class look ridiculous in front of the other, younger groups? And, can Mavis weather a serious personal crisis, just as the class is working hard to get ready for the show? This is a wonderful film for several reasons. To begin, of course, the movie stars the very gifted Minnelli, who is a bonafide triple threat. She can sing, she can dance, and she can act, all in a glorious fashion. She makes Mavis a very memorable and wistful character. Next, the rest of the cast is outstanding, too, and not just Walters and Winters. Most of the dance class members are folks with no name recognition but who play their parts admirably. Then, too, the characters in the film are very human and sympathetic, making the audience cheer and weep for them as the events unfold. Also, the dance numbers are exciting, the costumes are very nice, and the setting in Buffalo quite charming, making for a fine looking film. If you love dancing and singing, this movie has the goods for you. But, even if you can't cut a rug, this film's story will warm your heart with its lovely, vibrant, and very touching tale.

Lewis Gilbert finds more magic with Julie Walters who is brilliant in her bit. Liza Minelli is terrific and everybody is having a grand old time in one of the best movies nobody's ever heard of. This is by no means a great or important film, but it is marvelously enjoyable entertainment from beginning to end in a true ensemble piece. If you are in the video store and just want to feel good, rent this film.