Starring: Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci
Director: Peter Chelsom
Category: IIA
Japanese director Masayuki Suo had a hit on his hands back in 1995. His tale of a bored office worker whose life is turned around thanks to his passion for dance touched a nerve in his homeland - starting a ballroom dancing trend that continues to this day - and captured hearts in the US, taking in some US$10 million from a limited release.
A great deal more touching than, say, Strictly Ballroom (1992), which made similar noise, Shall We Dance? was soon snapped up for a remake. And the world has waited to see what would happen once the film was given the Hollywood treatment.
Gone is a great deal of the poignancy that marked the Japanese version. But thankfully in its place is the kind of showbiz panache Hollywood does best. Put it down to Richard Gere, as John Clark, for this is very much his movie.