Danse passion

Perhaps the ending is predictable. Perhaps the characters fit he mold. Don't measure this film by its contribution to cinema history. Instead, look at it because it is an entertaining evening. The dancing is energetic and joyful. The movie's romantic plot is believable, and that's all you really need for the story.

We all know Vanessa Williams isn't the greatest actress in the world. Personally, I thought she was just plain bad in 'Eraser'. She wound up making Schwarzenegger look like De Niro.

Well, I was sitting on my couch bored and 'Dance With Me' came on TV. I would normally change the channel, but the great dancing was hypnotic. I found myself incapable of pressing the button on my remote. My subconscious was screaming at me, "AAAAAAAH! THIS IS CR**! VANESSA WILLIAMS CAN'T ACT! TURN IT OFF, MAN! SWEET MOTHER OF GOD STOP THE PAIN!" But, still ... I couldn't change the channel.

Anyway, I wound up sitting through the entire film. [bows his head in shame] And it wasn't bad. I ... I enjoyed it. The cast was good and Vanessa Williams altered my perception of her. She's a decent actress and a great dancer. It was a fun movie.

Just don't tell anyone you heard it from me.

Yes, Virginia, the plot is cliched but isn't that true of most musicals? What this movie has going for it is dancing, music and stars who are beautiful, charming and talented. The dance scene in the Latin bar is worth the price of admission. If you like the Latin beat and want to watch pros dancing it, this movie is for you. It made this sedentary old broad rock her lounger.

I saw this film by chance on cable TV. I was captivated from the start and stayed with it to the end (a major feat for a remote "trigger finger" like me). I read the cable synopsis and thought, "Uh oh! Cliché city!" But, to my surprise, this film was not clichéd and the film was like a breath of fresh air. The performances, for the most part, were true and honest. Chayenne (as Rafael, a Cuban émigré) is charming and acts well in his English-language film debut. Vanessa Williams is stunning, as always. And the music! Picante! The dance sequences are excellent and Chayenne is an excellent dancer as is Vanessa. Chayenne has a soulful demeanor and with his eyes and subtle facial inflections, he made me feel his loneliness as a stranger in a new land. Many times, I thought the film would sink into gooey sentimentality, but again, to my surprise, it rose above such obviousness. The best scene in the film is when Chayenne is caught in a lawn sprinkler system that turns on unexpectedly. With great charm and wit, Chayenne does an excellent homage to Gene Kelly, but with his own style and grace. A wonderful and funny scene. I recommend this film if you want to hear some great Latin music, see some great dancing and be captivated by Chayenne and the beautiful Vanessa Williams. By the way, Kris Kristofferson is very good as the man who gives Rafael (Chayenne) a place to live upon arriving from Cuba and who plays a key role in Rafael's adjustment to a new life in America.

This is one of my all-time favorites, yet I wouldn't call the film great in the usual sense. It doesn't have an intricate plot, and some will be frustrated at the limited interaction between the stars, Williams and Chayanne. (I wasn't but that's me.) The film's spirit - with its dancing and Latin music - makes it something special. The acting was superb, and there was a nice mix of characters. But the dancing really steals the show - it makes you want to get up and join them.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a mix of light drama and dancing.