Coup de foudre à 3 temps

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!!

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.

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.

If you liked Shall We Dance, and you want to see what it would look like if it had a Christmastime setting, check out the Hallmark special Christmas Dance. Richard Gere isn't the only one who can take secret dance lessons and practice during work. Andrew McCarthy can do it too!

Teamed with dancer Michelle Nolden, there's an extra element to the story that makes for a sweet romance with a heart-wrenching conflict. While Andrew takes private dance lessons to impress his girlfriend, the boss's superficial daughter, he's drawn to the serious, calm, and steady Michelle. She's about to get evicted from her dance studio, curtesy of Andrew's company, but she doesn't know he's involved. Of course, he lies to her about his identity because he doesn't want to hurt her feelings - and because he's falling in love.

The one fly in the ointment? Mary Long's character, Andrew's mother. Nothing against Mary, especially since I enjoy seeing her in other movies, but she's far too involved with her grown-up son's love life for my taste. Besides that, this is a really sweet Hallmark movie. Believe it or not, it has more dance sequences than A Nutcracker Christmas, and they're very fun to watch.

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. During some of the waltz scenes, the camera swirls. Also, there are strobelights in the dance club in the beginning that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"