Shall we dance?

Herald rating: **

John Clark (Richard Gere) is a middle-aged lawyer who loves his wife, Beverly (Susan Sarandon), his teenage family and his job. But he feels he needs something else.

One night, from his commuter train, he sees a woman standing in the window of Miss Mitzi's Dance Studio. A few days later he gets off the train, walks into the studio and signs up for ballroom dance classes.

Clark is not really interested in dancing. He is interested in the woman in the window, Paulina (Jennifer Lopez), and even more so when she announces she doesn't socialise with students, thus setting up what we all thought we knew was going to happen. The twist is that ... oh, sorry, can't spoil it.

To be near her, Clark must spend time out of his comfort zone with fellow dance pupils, a mismatched crew that includes the giant Vern (Omar Benson Miller), homophobe Chic (Bobby Cannavale), wannabe bombshell Bobbie (Lisa Ann Walter), his manic colleague Link (Stanley Tucci) and Miss Mitzi (Anita Gillette).

Quicker than you can say "star vehicle," Paulina and Clark are dancing the rumba and we're heading down the great white way towards the predictable tension between the unlikely couple, the predictable misunderstanding between the husband and wife at home, and the climax at a ballroom dancing competition.

It's all very paint by numbers, a feel that's reinforced by a disk that offers director Peter Chelsom's disinterested commentary, deleted scenes, tepid behind-the-scenes feature. Those who have a hankering to foxtrot are offered some tips and history before a couple of music tracks.

* DVD, Video rental from today