Take the Lead (2006)
Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 119
Fresh: 52 | Rotten: 67
Banderas is charismatic in the lead, and the dance sequences are captivating, but the story is too familiar and predictable.
Average Rating: 5.3/10
Critic Reviews: 34
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 20
Banderas is charismatic in the lead, and the dance sequences are captivating, but the story is too familiar and predictable.
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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 350,712
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Movie Info
A teacher and his students open up new worlds for one another in this urban drama inspired by a true story. Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) is a prize-winning ballroom dancer and instructor from Manhattan who volunteers his services to a high school in one of the roughest neighborhoods in the Bronx. Principal Augustine James (Alfre Woodard) in turn gives Dulaine a tough assignment -- a detention class with some of the biggest troublemakers on campus. When the kids learn that Dulaine intends to
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Cast
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Antonio Banderas
Pierre Dulaine -
Rob Brown (VI)
Rock -
Lauren Collins
Caitlin -
Brandon D. Andrews
Monster -
-
Jenna Dewan
Sasha -
Alfre Woodard
Augustine James -
Katya Virshilas
Morgan -
Dante Basco
Ramos -
Marcus T. Paulk
Eddie -
-
John Ortiz
Mr. Temple -
Laura Benanti
Tina -
Yaya DaCosta
LaRhette -
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Take the Lead Trailer & Photos
All Critics (125) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (54) | Rotten (67) | DVD (10)
While their transformation is predictable, it's quietly enjoyable, and the teen angle opens the door to romance and gritty gang-war subplots.
Top Criticit's just ridiculous, it's just ridiculous. One cliché right after another. Not for one second did I believe any of this.
While we may be able to pretty much guess everything that's going to happen in Take the Lead, its considerable charm lies in the way it fulfills, rather than bucks, our expectations.
Think of it as the fictionalized version of last year's engaging documentary Mad Hot Ballroom, with teen dancers and sexier moves. It is also more formulaic and clichéd, thanks to the predictable plot and theme.
Take the Lead is pure entertainment, if only for the endless amusement of watching Banderas spread the gospel of ballroom like he was born wearing a tuxedo.
A predictable and yet thoroughly enjoyable drama about the redemptive power of dance for a group of inner-city teenagers.
NYC high schoolers saved by ballroom dancing.
Lean on Me meets Strictly Ballroom. Tough two-step replaces tough love.
Feels like a product, with decisions made for audience appeal rather than creativity.
For the most part, Liz Friedlander's direction and frenetic pacing mitigate any real performance opportunities.
A fun romp of a flick that showcases the power of dance and the human spirit.
You'll have to rumba over my dead body to get me to watch it again, but seeing Take The Lead once was OK. Recommended for fans of dance movies.
The poster says 'Never follow', while the movie itslef follows every cliche in the book.
A feel-good story using music and dance to guide problem kids onto the straight and narrow.....entertaining, although not the showstopper we might hope for
A bogus, trumped-up 'inspirational' ending goes on forever and all but ruins everything.
A scattering of dance sequences that fuse hip-hop and classical beats provide a few shots of energy, but Take The Lead otherwise plods through the motions.
It's still enjoyable, but never as strong as it should be.
Take the Lead offers few if any surprises to anyone who's seen either the aforementioned Breakin', Beat Street, or, most obvious of all, Dangerous Minds.
The energy and rhythm keep it moving along gracefully.
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