Movie:Dance Flick

Starring: Damon Wayans Jr., Craig Wayans, Shoshana Bush, Essence Atkins and Affion Crockett, Ross Thomas

Director: Damien Dante Wayans

Genre: Comedy

Before you watch a movie that is a parody of other films, you need to watch the films that the spoof makes fun of for it to make sense and actually be funny. Yes, I like stating the obvious.

Release Date: 19-Aug-2009

Language: English

Distributor: Damien Dante Wayans

Synopsis:

Street dancer Thomas Uncles is from the wrong side of the tracks, but his bond with the beautiful Megan White might help the duo realize their dreams as the enter in the mother of all dance battles.

My Comment/Review(s):

Starring: Damon Wayans Jr., Craig Wayans, Shoshana Bush, Essence Atkins and Affion Crockett, Ross Thomas

Before you watch a movie that is a parody of other films, you need to watch the films that the spoof makes fun of for it to make sense and actually be funny. Yes, I like stating the obvious.

Dance Flick pokes fun at many of the song-and-dance movies we've been treated to in recent years and even in the past, from Fame to Step Up to High School Musical. It is almost like you're having constant déjà vu flashes watching Dance Flick because it feels like you have seen it all before. And you probably have, though not with this kind of spin.

It is uncanny how you feel like you are watching a cast-off version of Honey Daniels (Jessica Alba) from Honey when you first set eyes on Megan (Shoshana Bush) who also resembles Sara (Julia Stiles) from Save the Last Dance. Or the uneasy feeling when you watch Ross Thomas’ character Tyler because he walks, talks and broods like Channing Tatum’s Tyler in Step Up.

There are so many of these look-alikes in Dance Flick that it becomes funny how all these characters can co-exist in one movie.

Then you start to notice that Dance Flick even spoofs iconic dance and musical scenes from Singing in the Rain. It is an endless stream of parodies and you cannot help but laugh because you took those scenes so seriously before.

It does not help that the storyline for Dance Flick is also oh-so-familiar: the girl wants to become a professional dancer but takes to the streets to do a dance-off and gains street credibility instead. Romance and gangsters are thrown in for good measure.

Although this film relies very much on its slapstick elements, it is smart comedy at the same time because the Wayans Brothers have included savvy pop culture references that make it even funnier. They have a knack for good comedy not because they try hard to make something stupid but because they obviously took time to fine-tune the gags.

Some of the lyrics for the songs are well-written too, so although you may be apprehensive at first about watching Dance Flick, you will come out with a smile on your face.

Remember White Chicks? That was pure genius and Dance Flick is no exception. The Wayans Brothers know how not to take themselves seriously.

So this review is not half as funny as Dance Flick. It is not even a third as funny. In fact this review is quite serious for such a light-hearted movie. There is not a dull moment in Dance Flick, which is even more enjoyable if you love the movies it spoofs.

Making The Grade: