Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dance competition drama has some sex, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Let's Dance
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In LET'S DANCE, Joseph (Rayane Bensetti) is the son the son of a ballet dancer and a roofer. Determined to compete in a major hip-hop competition, he suddenly leaves his French town for Paris to make his mark. His best friend and collaborator Karim (Meddi Kerkouche) and his dancer girlfriend Emma (Fiorella Campanella) come along. Emma's relationship with a hip-hop judge Youri (Brahim Zaibat) gets them into the competition, but also breaks up Emma and Joseph. Heartbroken, Joseph punches Youri, which gets him tossed from their dance group. He forms another, still yearning to win the competition, but realizes he knows nothing about choreography. He imposes on his mother's ex-husband, Remi (Guillaume de Tonquedec), the head of a ballet school, who lets him and Karim crash at his enormous apartment. In exchange, Joseph must teach at the ballet school, which Remi hopes will shake Joseph up artistically and inspire him to greater creative heights. There Joseph and ballerina Chloe (Alexia Giordana) make both and artistic and romantic connections and help each other achieve their goals.
Is It Any Good?
This is a lively take on a familiar theme, but the high quality of the writing, direction, and performances, added to a general artistic enlightenment, make this a cut above the usual. Both Rayane Bensetti as Joseph and Alexia Girodana as Chloe provide attractive leads. Guillaume de Tonquebec, as the older and wiser Remi, gives Let's Dance a grounding in responsible yet soaring artistic dedication. The only disappointment is that while the drama focuses on dancers finding ways to stand out from the generic crowd of competitors and discovering dance inspiration in the everyday movement all around, the resulting choreography remains pretty unexciting, even as the performers do their best to put it across.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how difficult it can be to make it in the arts. Why do you think certain people want to perform? What gratification do you imagine performers get from doing their work and having it appreciated?
How do you think a person knows if he or she is good enough at something to pursue it professionally?
In Let's Dance, Remi suggests that you can find art and inspiration in everyday life if you keep your eyes open and look for it. Can you think of things you see around you that could be art?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 4, 2019
- Cast : Rayane Bensetti , Alexia Giordanao , Guillaume de Tonquedec , Meddi Kerkouche
- Director : Ladislas Chollat
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 109 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 19, 2019
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