Gotta Dance Directed by: Dori Berinstein Cast: Betty/Betsy, Peggy, Joe B Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins Rating: Unrated Release Date: August 14, 2009
Plot: A documentary chronicling the creation of a hip-hop dance team for seniors to perform at New Jersey Nets basketball games. The film follows the team from the selection process through it's first season.
Who’s It For? Anyone who enjoys a feel good documentary about people attempting to go beyond their limits.
Expectations: I was expecting a dance version of Young at Heart, last year's documentary about a senior choir.
SCORECARD (0-10)
Actors: Betty/Betsy as herself: The dual name is a result of of B/B's double identity, Kindergarten teacher by day, hip-hopper by night. She's one of the funniest/strangest with her insistence on giving two separate names to two aspects of her personality. But I found her to be one of the most engaging characters in this film. And yes, though they are real people, they are all characters. Score: 7
Peggy as herself: Peggy's a former glamour girl/model who's had some work done. Her face is abnormally tight for a woman her age. She's actually the only one of the group I noticed who did seem like she was trying to pass as younger than her age, still she admitted that she was 70 and she's in amazing shape for her age. We don't get as much information about her as we do from Betty/Betsy, but I still found her memorable. Score: 6
Joe B as himself: Joe B was the only man to audition and subsequently becomes the only man on a team full of women. He holds his own though. He doesn't take to the hip hop as well as some of the others, but he's really good at jitterbugging/swing dancing. He has a big personality and thrives in the company of the women. I thought he'd be a fun guy to hang out with. Score: 6
Talking: The people selected for the Senior dance team are all personalities and most are extroverts. There's a lot of talking and pretty much anything comes out of their mouths. Well, except cursing, it's a clean show. There are some very funny lines that no writer would think to make up. Score: 7
Sights: The filmmakers got great access to the Nets facilities. But I was a little disappointed with how the dance performances were shot. The shots seldom showed the whole group, and I really wanted to see how the dance sequences turned out. You mostly got the center of the group rather than the whole thing. Couldn't the filmmakers have gotten access to what was filmed by the TV crews who must have been at the games? Score: 5
Sounds: The hip hop songs that the seniors danced to were pretty much what you'd expect a drill team to dance to. So yeah, you don't need a soundtrack, you could probably get a copy of Jock Jams version 82. Score: 5
PLOT SPOILERS
Best Scene: The first time the whole team performs during the game is great. I wasn't sure how the audience would react to the dance team, whether they'd think it would be a joke or they would see the work that went into it. So when they went wild and seemed to accept it in the spirit of fun and novelty I believe was intended, it was really gratifying.
Ending: The structure of the film was a little odd, after the first dance performance it felt like the film had peaked, and I lost interest a bit. Then it picked back up, but I wish the pacing was a little smoother.
Questions: Did the New Jersey Nets sponsor this film? Did Betsy/Betty work out her duality issues?
Rewatchability: This is a light, breezy film that would be no problem to watch again.
OVERALL Most of the films I review I watch on my own. This one I watched with my Mom, who's 60 and therefore would qualify to join the Senior dance team. I probably got more out of watching it with her than I did alone. Don't get me wrong, it's very enjoyable, but my Mom really loved it.
If you're looking for a movie to watch with different generations of your family I couldn't recommend this more. Gotta Dance features people who are old enough to know what's really important in life, they treat this opportunity as something fun, they'll work hard but they're in it for the fun, and for that reason the audience will have a good time too.
Final Score: 6/10