About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

What makes "Shall We Dance?" really enjoyable is the terrific work done by the movie's supporting cast. Sure, Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon are great, but it's Stanley Tucci (in sequins and sporting wild hair), Bobby Cannavale, Lisa Ann Walter, and Omar Benson Miller that truly steal this film.



Pros

• Richard Gere's fun to watch as learns the ins and outs of ballroom dancing
• Great supporting cast including Bobby Cannavale, Stanley Tucci and Lisa Ann Walter

• This is not a J-Lo film, thank goodness

Cons

• People think this is a J-Lo movie

Description

• Commentary by director Peter Chelsom
• Deleted scenes including an alternate opening (the one used in the film is the better of the two)
• "Beginner's Ballroom" - An explanation of ballroom dancing
• "Behind the Scenes of 'Shall We Dance?'" - Interviews with the cast
• "Music of 'Shall We Dance?'" - The three different levels of music in "Shall We Dance" are explained
• "Pussycat Dolls 'Sway' Video" - Sexy music video featuring gorgeous women
• DVD Release Date: February 1, 2005

Guide Review - "Shall We Dance?" DVD Review

Richard Gere stars as John Clark, a successful lawyer who has two great kids and an understanding and supportive wife (played by Susan Sarandon). Outwardly, John's life is terrific. But deep inside, John thinks there's something missing. There's just some intangible thing that if he had it would give new meaning to his life.

Taking the train home from work, John catches a glimpse of a beautiful woman looking out the window of a dance studio.

Suddenly it hits him. He needs to dance. He needs the freedom and spark a few twirls around the dance floor will bring him. Surrounded by a real cast of characters, John finds the part of himself he was missing while learning all about ballroom dancing.

Meanwhile back at home, John's wife Beverly starts to get very suspicious. Her husband has been staying out even later than usual and making all sorts of excuses. Hiring a private eye, Beverly soon discovers it's not another woman who is occupying all of her husband's free time - it's the love of dance.

DVD Bonus Features

All the intimate details of ballroom dancing are exposed in the "Beginner's Ballroom" featurette. Also worth checking out is the "Behind the Scenes of 'Shall We Dance?' featurette. In it, the cast and director Peter Chelsom talk about why they were drawn to the film and what life on the set was like.

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