The real story of a dance teacher who believed in the talent of a group of problem kids.The real story of a dance teacher who believed in the talent of a group of problem kids.The real story of a dance teacher who believed in the talent of a group of problem kids.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
26K
YOUR RATING
- Awards
- 1 win & 6 nominations
Videos3
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- Writer
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
In New York, the polite dance instructor Pierre Dulaine sees a black teenager vandalizing the car of the director of a public school and on the next day he volunteers to teach dance to students to give respect, dignity, self-confidence, trust and teamwork. The reluctant director Augustine James offers the troublemakers that are in detention expecting Pierre to give-up of his intentions. Pierre struggles against the prejudice and ignorance of the students, parents and other teachers, but wins his battle when the group accepts to compete in a ballroom dance contest. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Taglines
- Never Follow.
- Genres
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated PG-13 for thematic material, language and some violence
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaThe youthful members of cast worked with the real Pierre Dulaine to get their dance moves correct for the movie.
- GoofsAt the dance competition Dulaine lets Rock borrow his suit coat. Dulaine is much smaller than Rock, however, the coat looks oversized on Rock when he's on the dance floor.
- Quotes
Pierre Dulaine: To do something, anything, is hard. It's much easier to blame your father, your mother, the environment, the government, the lack of money, but even if you find a place to assign the blame,it doesn't make the problems go away.
- ConnectionsFeatured in HBO First Look: Take the Lead (2006)
- SoundtracksI Got Rhythm (Take the Lead Remix)
Written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Performed by Lena Horne
Additional vocals performed by Q-Tip
Remixed by Swizz Beatz and Aaron Zigman
Courtesy of RCA Victor Group by arrangement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Q-Tip appears courtesy of Motown Records a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Top review
The How Do You Say.... Ahh Yessss Movie
Are there any late 90s SNL fans out there who get the reference in my title? Chris Kattan once did a hilariously bad parody of Antonio Banderas, the idea being that Antionio is so sexy ("tooo sexy! tooo sexy! No, the bambinos!") that he can basically fondle the camera and be a hit. This film, featuring Antonio as a swave, kind-hearted, chivalrous dance instructor with impeccable taste in clothes, is the real life version of that skit. I watched this with my girlfriend, and she kept looking over to ask me if I was still heterosexual.
So yeah, tons of eye candy for fans of Antonio. Dim the lights, strap on your dancing shoes, or whatever else you care to strap on (I don't even know what that means) and enjoy the film.
The movie itself is an entertaining blend of gritty realism, fantasy dance, cute comedy and every highschool-misfits-enter-a-competition movie ever made. Much of it is predictable, but it packs enough pirouettes to surprise the audience once in a while. Included in this mostly-tame story are bits of crime, violence, domestic abuse and attempted rape which are convincingly done, due to the excellent acting by these mostly-unknown young actors.
If you don't know, "Take the Lead" is based on the true story of Pierre Dulaine, a dance instructor who decided to take on some of the roughest schools in NYC by teaching ballroom. Much of the film is dramatized, several bits are outright manufactured, but it more or less stays true to the spirit of Pierre's work. I wish it had expounded more on the philosophy behind the method (which is beautifully explained in Antonio's monologue to the angry parents), but we still get the gist.
I've read a few reviews and message board comments from people who were infuriated by the ending spectacle, and all I can say is yeah they have a point, but hey this is a movie folks. It's supposed to have some pizazz. I suppose it's the extreme blending of realism and dancing that causes the conflict. If you can go with the flow, I think you'll find it to be a fun and worthwhile flick.
If you like this sort of story (highschool-misfits-enter-a-competition), I highly recommend the Japanese flick "Swing Girls" about a bunch of nerds trying to learn jazz. On the wacky side is "Kickin It Old Skool" about a bunch of middle aged nerds who never left the 80s trying to win a dance contest. There's a million of em but they never get old, do they? "Take the Lead" is more on the serious side than the others, but hey... it has Antonio Banderas. How do you say... Ahhh yesss.
So yeah, tons of eye candy for fans of Antonio. Dim the lights, strap on your dancing shoes, or whatever else you care to strap on (I don't even know what that means) and enjoy the film.
The movie itself is an entertaining blend of gritty realism, fantasy dance, cute comedy and every highschool-misfits-enter-a-competition movie ever made. Much of it is predictable, but it packs enough pirouettes to surprise the audience once in a while. Included in this mostly-tame story are bits of crime, violence, domestic abuse and attempted rape which are convincingly done, due to the excellent acting by these mostly-unknown young actors.
If you don't know, "Take the Lead" is based on the true story of Pierre Dulaine, a dance instructor who decided to take on some of the roughest schools in NYC by teaching ballroom. Much of the film is dramatized, several bits are outright manufactured, but it more or less stays true to the spirit of Pierre's work. I wish it had expounded more on the philosophy behind the method (which is beautifully explained in Antonio's monologue to the angry parents), but we still get the gist.
I've read a few reviews and message board comments from people who were infuriated by the ending spectacle, and all I can say is yeah they have a point, but hey this is a movie folks. It's supposed to have some pizazz. I suppose it's the extreme blending of realism and dancing that causes the conflict. If you can go with the flow, I think you'll find it to be a fun and worthwhile flick.
If you like this sort of story (highschool-misfits-enter-a-competition), I highly recommend the Japanese flick "Swing Girls" about a bunch of nerds trying to learn jazz. On the wacky side is "Kickin It Old Skool" about a bunch of middle aged nerds who never left the 80s trying to win a dance contest. There's a million of em but they never get old, do they? "Take the Lead" is more on the serious side than the others, but hey... it has Antonio Banderas. How do you say... Ahhh yesss.
helpful•30
- rooprect
- Apr 19, 2013
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Điệu Nhảy Sôi Động
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $30,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $34,742,066
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $12,775,000
- Apr 9, 2006
- Gross worldwide
- $66,500,090
- Runtime1 hour 58 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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