LOVE N’ DANCING

LOVE N’ DANCING is the story of Jake, a dance competitor turned instructor who happens to also be deaf. After retiring from competition and the engagement breakup with his dance partner/fiancée, Jake becomes a motivational speaker as well as a instructor at a local dance studio. Jessica begins to take lessons and realizes that dance helps her to “be alive.”

Jake decides to get back into dance competition and picks amateur Jessica to be his partner. As they train for the big competition, Jessica becomes disillusioned with her workaholic fiancé and breaks up with him.

Jake, meanwhile, learns not to be awkward around beautiful women and opens up to Jessica. They enter the competition and the success is that Jake learns to “listen” to his dance partner as they dance.

LOVE N’ DANCING is small on acting and plot but big on dance numbers. The West Coast Swing style dancing made popular on TV dance shows is showcased throughout with actual competitors on screen.

The acting is less energetic. The lines lay flat and the plot centers on the stated chemistry between the couple. However, between poor scripting and even poorer acting, it does not succeed. The highlight on screen is Billy Zane who plays the workaholic fiancé.

The other issue is one of tone. It’s never clear if this is a comedy or drama. Some movies are able to walk that fine line, but not this one.

The movie’s message is Romantic, as Jessica fulfills Jake and vice versa, each finding what they were looking for in one another. There is little negative content with a small amount of foul language, a few sexual references and some skimpy dance costumes. Otherwise, it’s mostly clean.

There is a lesbian character, however, who is played for comedy, especially when her former “girlfriend” swears off women and ends up marrying the workaholic fiancé.

For some great dancing, LOVE N’ DANCING is enjoyable but it falls flat as a movie with a fully developed, compelling story.