Release Date: May 6th, 2008
Running Time: 106 minutes

The Film

Richard Gere has accomplished what few leading men can: he remains a romantic comedy draw into his more seasoned years. While not exactly drawing the same crowd swooning over Matthew McConaughy, Gere has established a firm fan base and delivers consistent, solid performances in the genre. Shall We Dance? is not a ground breaking romantic comedy, but offers an enjoyable time for a demographic that rarely has movies targeted its way.

A remake of a Japanese film, Shall We Dance? stars Gere as John Clark, a man living the traditional, dull corporate existence. He works at a stale accounting job, drives the stereotypical commute, and just lacks any excitement in his life. He is in a tough patch with his wife Beverly (Susan Sarandon) as the two are constantly busy and can’t seem to connect. In short, the passion of life has left John Clark.

On day John notices a woman in the window (Jennifer Lopze) of Miss Mitzi’s Dance School and is immediately entranced. He swallows his pride and signs up for dance lessons taught by Miss Mitzi (Anite Gillette). Throughout these lessons John remains captivated by the mysterious woman named Paulina. Meanwhile Beverly begins to get suspicious, not aware of John’s sudden new interest in dancing, and hires a private investigator to get the scoop.

Shall We Dance? is formulaic, exploring the themes of an old relationship needing a spark, hidden desires, and, of course, the charged energy of dancing. As I stated before, this is a film geared to a very specific demographic that is not looking for groundbreaking filmmaking, just a romantic way to spend two hours with a loved one.

The Disc

The video is presented In a 1080p, 1.85:1 High Definition transfer. It is mostly solid and features a rich, deep black levels and vibrant colors. The level of fine detail is respectable and only occasionally goes on the soft side. Overall it is an above average HD transfer.

The audio is offered in English 5.1 Uncompressed (48 khz/24-bit) Sound as well as English/French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. While it isn’t a film of giant explosions or gun fights, the surround speakers do make good use of heightening the atmosphere with subtle additions. Dialogue remains balanced, even against the higher-energy dance sequences that accentuate the score.

The Extras

Commentary is offered with Director Peter Chelsom. Chelsom has a lot to say about dancing and filmmaking, unfortunately he comes off too dull and impassionate to keep you listening.

“Behind the Scenes of Shall We Dance?” is a 24-minute featurette with interviews from the cast and crew. Again Chelsom has some good information, but the rest of the participants fall into the usual press kit, generic topics.

“Beginners’ Ballroom” is a 6-minute look at ballroom dancing but is not a tutorial.

“The Music of Shall We Dance?” is a quick, 4-minute piece on the different types of music featured in the film.

Finally, 5 Deleted Scenes are offered, including an alternate opening, that run 17 minutes as well as the Music Video “Sway” from the Pussycat Dolls.

Final Thoughts

Shall We Dance? is a perfect date-night rental for a couple wanting a non-threatening and sweet film to remind you about the necessity of passion in life.