Take the Lead (2006)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Liz Friedlander

Writer (WGA):

Dianne Houston (written by)

Release Date:

7 April 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Never Follow.

Plot:

The real story of a dance teacher who believed in the talent of a group of problem kids.

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Teacher | Ballroom | Dance Teacher | Tango

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 9	1:00 AM	TBS
Thur. July 9	10:00 AM	TBS

Cast

Antonio Banderas	...	Pierre Dulaine
Rob Brown	...	Rock
Yaya DaCosta	...	LaRhette
Alfre Woodard	...	Augustine James
John Ortiz	...	Mr. Temple
Laura Benanti	...	Tina
Jonathan Malen	...	Kurd
Jasika Nicole	...	Egypt
Shawand McKenzie	...	Big Girl
Dante Basco	...	Ramos
Elijah Kelley	...	Danjou
Jenna Dewan	...	Sasha
Marcus T. Paulk	...	Eddie
Brandon D. Andrews	...	Monster
Lauren Collins	...	Caitlin

Also Known As:

Держи ритм (Russia) [ru]
Déjate llevar (Spain) [es]
Dance with Me (France) [fr]
Dance! (Germany) [de]
Entrez dans la danse (Canada: French title) [fr]
Niose to rythmo (Greece) [el]
Rütm kisub kaasa (Estonia) [et]
Ritmo e Sedução (Portugal) (literal title) [pt]
Ritmo y seducción (Argentina) [es]
Ti va di ballare? (Italy) [it]
Vem Dançar (Brazil) [pt]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, language and some violence.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | Ireland:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | Argentina:Atp | Malaysia:U | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Sweden:7 | Finland:K-11 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Australia:PG | Iceland:10 | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:PG | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Originally, 'Antonio Banderas' turned down the part of Pierre when he looked at the script and realized the whole film was about ballroom dancing. The producers begged him for a few minutes for them to explain the story. After hearing this, viewing a documentary on and meeting the real Pierre, Banderas signed on.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the dance scene with Pierre and Morgan during the detention, they dance Argentine tango, which is not considered a ballroom dance. American and international tango, both ballroom dances, are completely different.

Quotes:

Eddie: Man, punk moves like that won't get you no play around here, trust me I've tried it.

Movie Connections:

Version of Mad Hot Ballroom (2005)

Soundtrack:

Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)

"To Sir With Love" meets "Dance With Me"

TAKE THE LEAD (2006) *** Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Alfre Woodard, Dante Basco, Lyriq Bent, Brandon Andrews, Laura Benanti, Yaya DaCosta, Jenna Dewan, Elijah Kelley, Shawand Mckenzie, Marcus T. Paulk, Joseph Pierre, Katya Virshilas, Heidi von Palleske. "To Sir With Love" meets "Dance With Me" could've been the pitch for his entertaining melodrama based on the true-life account of Pierre Dulaine's (Banderas in one of his best performances) unorthodox method of communicating with Manhattan high school delinquents with teaching them ballroom dancing. While Dianne Houston's screenplay is riddled with clichés and formulaic storytelling, novice filmmaker Liz Friedlander, who cut her teeth on music videos, inhabits the film with a lot of style, panache and energy thanks largely to her unknown ensemble of willing young talent and stand-up and cheer moments including a ménage a trios tango that sizzles.