Strictly Ballroom DVD: Review By moviegeek

**MovieWeb doesn't have this movie in 'movie' form so I'm reviewing the DVD...grr*

Baz Luhrmann, the wizard behind Moulin Rouge(!), Romeo + Juliet, and Australia, began his work right here--in the Australian competitive ballroom. It is colorful and euphoric in nature. You can tell the people in charge had fun making this movie, and I had lots of fun watching it!

The movie follows a group of young people who take ballroom dancing unnaturally seriously. Scott is a prime dancer who was raised in strict form by his family who had a history on the dance floor. Scott is tired of the conventional moves and wants to break out with his own steps. Because of this, he loses his dance partner. This leaves him to picking the ugly duckling of the dance school, Fran, as his new partner.

Fran of course is beautiful without her coke-bottle glasses and smock she wears, and naturally these two will fall for each other. But this movie does of fantastic job of winking at the camera. It knows that it is recycling old ground, and doesn't waste any time keeping us guessing in its ultimate fate. Strictly Ballroom succeeds and hopes to succeed just as its title would imply--Strictly in the Ballroom.

The dance sequences are fantastic both in the actual dancing, but also in the visual style. Luhrmann is know today for his eccentric shooting style and lavish visuals, and he implements it all here.

Because the movie blatantly admits it doesn't tread any new ground, because it knows we can see right through the corny plot structure from the beginning, because it plays WITH the audience in its happy spirit, this is an impossible movie NOT to like! I was pleased with this whole movie.

This isn't daring like Moulin Rouge. It is safe. Maybe it was the best way to get the movie made. But it's a completely fun little movie, with a jolly spirit and sarcastic wit to it's pacing. I am happy to have watched this little gem of a film.