Parents' Guide to

Shall We Dance?

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Cute romance that is marred by homophobia.

Movie PG-13 2004 90 minutes
Shall We Dance? Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

mfagundes
mfagundes Adult
June 25, 2019
age 13+

Sweet movie

My daughter is a huge J.Lo fan so I've been finding movies with her in it. This is a sweet adaptation of a Japanese film. Maybe now that I am in my late 40's I appreciate it more. It's cute with one f-bomb in it that didn't really need to be in it, but it was in an appropriate place (as co-workers are teasing a gentleman for his love of dance)

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Chicago lawyer John Clark (Richard Gere) writes wills. He listens to people sum up their lives -- their assets, their liabilities, their legacies. When it's done, they ask, "Is that it, then?" and he tells them, "That's it for the paperwork. The rest is up to you." John likes his job and he loves his wife, son, and daughter. But riding home on the El train, he sees a woman standing in the second-story window of a ballroom dance studio and her expression of sadness and longing as she gazes into the darkness somehow unleashes his own wish for something more. So one night, he walks into the dance studio and signs up for the beginners class. His fellow students are Vern, a huge, shy man who says he wants to learn so he can dance at his upcoming wedding, and Chic (Bobby Cannavale of The Station Agent), who says he is there to learn to dance so he can impress girls.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

SHALL WE DANCE? not only shows viewers the longing felt by its characters, it draws them in to sharing those feelings with them. Jennifer Lopez, meanwhile, gives a performance of great delicacy and skill, showing viewers Paulina's fragility and dignity. And the music and dancing are sublime. You want John, Vern, and Chic to find their steps and rhythm. You may just do a little dancing of your own on your way home.

Each man is there because he wants to dance. John begins to see himself differently when he finds a way to move to music. His wife suspects an affair and hires a pair of detectives (Richard Jenkins of Six Feet Under and Nick Cannon from Drumline) to follow him. Though John is drawn to the melancholy dance teacher it is more out of curiosity and compassion than romance, and in the end, he finds an unexpected connection with a colleague from the office and with his own family.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about talk about why it was hard for John and Beverly to be honest with each other. What was John missing? Which characters changed the most, and why? What could you do that would change your life the way dancing changed the lives of John, Vern, and Chic?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: October 15, 2004
  • On DVD or streaming: February 1, 2005
  • Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon
  • Director: Peter Chelsom
  • Inclusion Information: Latinx actors, Bisexual actors
  • Studio: Miramax
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 90 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: some sexual references and brief language
  • Last updated: April 4, 2023

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