Filed under: Film Reviews | Tags: donnie walhberg, frank keane, john goodman, marilyn hotchkiss, marisa tomei, meredith morrison, movies, netflix, randall miller, return to me, reviews, robert carlyle, you've got mail
Today I had the good fortune of watching one of the most charming, touching films I’ve seen in a good while. Starring Robert Carlyle (28 Weeks Later), Marisa Tomei (Crazy, Stupid, Love), John Goodman (The Artist), and even a slew of other notable faces, “Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School” is a supremely refreshing piece of entertainment that pairs perfectly with a cup of hot tea.
Frank Keane (Carlyle) is a baker driving down the highway when he comes across Steve Mills (Goodman) pinned inside his damaged vehicle. Stunned, Keane calls 911 and does his best to keep Mills talking; “If he’s talking, he’s conscious, and we need him conscious,” the EMT’s keep saying. What unravels is the story of how Mills was on his way to Marilyn Hotchkiss’ ballroom dancing class that he promised to attend on the “fifth day, of the fifth month, of the fifth year of the new millennium” with his grade school sweetheart, Lisa Gobar. Not surprisingly, Mills doesn’t make it and has Keane go instead, to try and find Lisa and tell her he did his best to keep their date. Although Keane doesn’t find Lisa, he ends up finding so much more in Hotchkiss’ dancing classes. Having lost his wife recently, Keane begins to see dancing as a way to “exercise his demons” and start anew.
I have to admit, at times I questioned the integrity of this film; from the unmarketable title to the overly sentimental story, I kept wondering if this was on Lifetime previously (I’m also not saying it hasn’t been…). But despite it’s emotional disposition and lack of testosterone, there’s no denying the grand love story at hand. More than about love, it truly is about finding the inspiration to overcome one of life’s greatest hardships: the loss of a loved one. Carlyle does a great job as Frank Keane; “a good guy,” as Meredith Morrison (Tomei) affectionately calls him. You root for him, you want him to find solace, and what director Randall Miller does wonderfully and effortlessly is… he makes you care. Even the small characters wear a sheen of pizazz and color which give the film a sense of vivacity and constant amusement. Probably my favorite group of people are Keane’s support group for men who have had their wives pass away. Almost everyone in the circle is a recognizable face and their banter is not only comedic, but heartfelt and insightful. When they end up joining Keane at Hotchkiss’ Thursday night dance lessons, it’s a particularly triumphant moment that left a warm, lasting impression on me.
The film is rather fast paced, dealing with multiple narratives. There’s the “present:” where Keane is attending these dance classes and slowly getting over the death of his wife and falling for Miss Morrison. Then there’s the flashback: Keane in the ambulance with Mills, hearing his story. And then the past: Mills’ story; grainy, 60s coloration to boot. Seamlessly these all come together and provide a multi-layered tale that’s heavy on the cheese, but endearing no less. You can tell that the director is taking his source material seriously and the actors are giving their best too. So despite maybe finding the storyline and its themes sappy, it’s easy to get over such a factor when you see the genuine nature of this movie.
“Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School” is probably one of the best indicators of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” With an admittedly terrible (yet fitting) name and a pretty flowery, dumb cover, it’s easy to pass this one up over and over again. But at a brisk 100 minutes, I encourage anyone to check this out on Netflix on their next lazy day off and see what happens; you might just be delightfully entertained. In the same vein as “Return To Me” or “You’ve Got Mail,” “Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School” might be destined to only appeal to an adult crowd, but I’m sure the romantic in all of us could find something to love here.
Final Say: 4 Stars. (Check ratings page on the side column)
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