Sunday, November 28, 2004
"SHALL WE DANCE"
Just when you think that Hollywood is a hopeless wasteland, along comes a romantic comedy that restores your faith in the value of motion pictures. "Shall We Dance", a romantic comedy starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez, is that sort of movie. If art leads culture, this one portends better trends just around the corner.
The right ingredients are here. Committed marriage. Value in those the world deems valueless. Love in a long-term marriage. Wisdom in middle age. The movie has a happy-ever-after ending, following on a wake-up call that didn't involve extramarital sex or any form of violence. No one broke the rules, despite the opportunities and temptations to do so. No one got angry. Hurting souls were healed while playing the moral game.
The appealing good looks of Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopes didn't hurt the story any, either. It's a chick flick--sort of--because it's about love, romance, and marriage. Tears and laughter go with it, neither one in great abundance. But in spite of the sentimental theme, my husband asked if I wanted to stay and see the movie again. I don't think he has ever done that before. We actually talked about it over dinner, a major achievement in an age of movies that are hardly worth remembering until you get to the car.
This one is a masterpiece worth a sequel.
