Watch Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School For Free

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The Worst Film Ever

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

I'm ripping off another reviewer's title for "Lisbon Story" (the original "good for the soul" movie), but I can't think of a better description for "Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School."I won't even get into the plot except to say that it's at times surprisingly dark, surprisingly uplifting, surprisingly tense, and just overall surprising. It deals with themes of devastating loss, rediscovery, pain, anger, violence, and confusion but in a way that gets your toes tapping to the Lindy Hop. Watch the movie, and that'll make sense.If you've gotten past the supercilious title, which doubtlessly scares off anyone in the mood for Saw VIII, and you've gotten as far as the 3rd paragraph of this review which includes supercilious words like "supercilious", then I think you'll get it. This is a movie which explores the veneer of charm which we often use to cloak a deeper ugliness in our lives. But it doesn't do it sarcastically; it actually points out how an occasional ballroom dance may, occasionally, be the cure for the horrors that we experience.It's no surprise that the filmmakers managed to snare an all star cast, because this is the kind of movie that actors (who aren't solely obsessed with money) would eagerly jump into. Award winning talent like John Goodman, Marisa Tomei, Mary Steenburgen, and some of my personal favorites like Ernie Hudson (The Crow, Ghostbusters) and Donnie Wahlberg (the aforementioned Saw movies) as well as a cameo by Danny Devito really bring this story to life. And of course there's the main character played by Robert Carlyle, an actor whom I'm not familiar with but I'll forever remember his performance here.As for the dancing itself, no, it's not really a showcase of fancy footwork (for that, you should check out the awesome Aussie flick "Strictly Ballroom") although Donnie Wahlberg does some impressive moves as the hilarious cheeseball Baryshnikov wannabee who needs to button his shirt back above his navel. This is really a human story with elements of romcom, elements of tragedy, elements of suspense, and regardless of how it turns out "good for the soul."

Frank (Robert Carlyle) is a widowed baker, trying to recover from his wife's sudden death. As he is driving the highway, one day, he comes across a serious auto accident involving a single driver, Steve (John Goodman). Told to keep the man conscious through conversation, Frank learns that Steve was on his way to a dance class appointment he made, 40 years ago, with a young girl he had a crush on! He begs Frank, when he can, to go to the Marilyn Hotchkiss Dance and Charm School, find Lisa and tell her why he couldn't make it. Frank does so, reluctantly, much to the surprise of his widowers support group. Once at the school, however, now operated by Marilyn's daughter, Mary Ann (Mary Steenburgen), and featuring a beautiful lady, Meredith (Marisa Tomei), Frank is intrigued. Failing to find Lisa, the baker, nevertheless, goes back the following week, even though Meredith's troubled stepbrother (Donnie Wahlberg) warns him to keep away from his sister. Before long, Frank and all of the widowers are learning to "live again" with the healing power of ballroom dance. But, will Steve remain alive and will Lisa ever be found? This lovely film is easy to recommend to fans of romantic drama and, indeed, all those who admire quality film-making. The story is wonderful, after a slow opening, with some memorable lines and situations. Also, the setting is fantastic, an old but beautiful ballroom, with Mary Ann parting the stage curtains at each class' beginning and following a pattern of etiquette that recalls a different era. As for the cast, Carlyle, Steenburgen, the always lovely Tomei, Goodman, Sean Astin, Paymer, and especially Wahlberg, are made-to-order great. Naturally, the costumes, photography and inventive direction are also strong assets. Want to put a spring in your step and smile on your face? Dance out the door and secure a view soon.

This is a somewhat quirky story that I find works very well. It is not told in a linear fashion and that works very well, with the fine editing. In present time John Goodman is Steve Mills, driving to get back to Pasadena, California, to the "Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School". He had taken dancing and charm lessons there for almost 3 years in the 1960s as a young boy, and he and one of his friends agreed to meet there on the 5th day of the 5th month of the 5th year of the new millennium. This was the day and he had to get there. Robert Carlyle is Frank Keane, who bakes bread and delivers it. He is in his delivery truck when he comes upon the single vehicle accident. It is Steve, who is injured, but he makes Frank promise he would go in his place and look up the old friend. In a complementary story Frank has recently lost his wife and is still grieving, so he and several other men meet in a self-help group. Some of them are Sean Astin as Kip Kipling, Adam Arkin as Gabe DiFranco, David Paymer as Rafael Horowitz, and Ernie Hudson as Blake Rische. In the modern day dance studio are Mary Steenburgen as Marienne Hotchkiss, the daughter of Marilyn who is now deceased. Two of the key adult dancers are Marisa Tomei as Meredith Morrison and Donnie Wahlberg as Randall Ipswitch. The story, its pacing, the acting all have a charm to them. All in all a very unique and enjoyable movie. A very touching story. In trying to help a stranger Frank helps himself out of his depression.SPOILERS: Steve is gravely injured in the accident. Very late in the movie we see that he had been in prison, and released just the day before he was supposed to meet is boyhood crush Lisa. So he stole a car and had to drive through the night. Sleepiness caused him to crash, almost cutting himself in two. He did not survive the ambulance ride to the hospital. So Frank went in Steve's place, sure that Laia would be there, but she wasn't. However Frank found a new place he felt comfortable and meeting Meredith was a bonus. They eventually became a couple. Frank did track down Camryn Manheim as Lisa Gobar, a frumpy smoker living in a trailer, she said she had no recollection of the deal she and Steve made 40 years earlier. But as Frank left, we see her pull out a cigar box on mementos, including a photo of Steve. She never forgot. (Danny DeVito has a very brief appearance as Steve's cell mate as Steve is leaving.)

Do you like long, slow, artsy-fartsy movies with lots of black & white flashbacks that go on forever ? Then you'll love this one.There are some good actors here, but this film represents their worst work. John Goodman's performance, as an accident victim, is lost. He looks about twice as obese as I remember him, and his face crowds the screen. Frankly, I couldn't get through it, and Donna Grayson's previous comments are completely inexplicable. She must have been involved in the production and is trying to beat the dead horse of promoting the film.Avoid this film like the plague, and you'll be a much happier person.