While watching Rasputin: The Mad Monk last night (review up later today), I was miffed that the movie missed two opportunities for a dance-off. I go crazy when I see a two or more people resolving conflict via dance. It's so stupid. But, you know, I guess it's no more ridiculous than people hitting one another or writing scathing letters to the editor about one another. The setup usually goes something like this:
Guy 1: "She's my girl!"
Guy 2: "No she's mine!"
Guy 1: "We'll see about that!"
Then, Guy 1 busts a move, right in Guy 2's face, as if to demonstrate to Guy 2, that if Guy 2 does try to woo Guy 1's girl, he will have to contend with Guy 1's dancing while they date, ruining any chance Guy 2 has of setting the mood! (Girl: "So, I've never been to this restaurant before, it's really... is that Guy 1 dancing over there?") Guy 2 responds by dancing back at Guy 1! This escalates until they've danced away their troubles or one of them throws a shoe and has to be shot.
Besides West Side Story or Strictly Ballroom, anyone know of any good dance-off scenes? And if there are any featuring monsters?
Thursday, October 13, 2005
an experiment in dancing
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18 comments:
There are classic send-ups of dance-offs in South Park and Robot Chicken episodes.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Featuring SEVEN guys dancing off againse SEVEN others! Plus some girls somewhere.
Picnic tables get involved. It's an epic battle.
I can't think of any other dance-off scenes in movies, other than the ones mentioned. I have observed that in all the Jane Austen books-turned-into-movies, the director uses a dance as a pivotal turning point in the characters' lives. It's also important because people couldn't play grab-ass like they do today - we ladies get all excited as Mr. Darcy holds Lizzy's hand for a dance.
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While not a dance-off, Footloose has a classic "rebellious dance" ending. And, there's always Elizabeth Berkeley's movie Showgirls. I think she has a dance off with some guy in the early part of the movie (blame VH1's "Movies that Rock" series for the fact that I've seen that piece of crap). My hubby suggests A Chorus Line, though I don't remember a dance-off in that one. Just a lot of dancing.
The South Park episode is awesome, as is the Seven Brides version. As you might imagine, the latter is much more wholesome.
Perhaps A Knight's Tale. I'm not sure if that counts since he doesn't actually take her away from guy #1 right then.
I'm pretty sure there were a couple of monster dance offs somewhere during a Hilarious House of Frightenstein episode or two.
Center Stage is another movie about dancing, including a dance-off.
Stifler was in a dance-off in American Wedding, but, as I recall, that wasn't exactly to win the girl (though it did make him a friend).
There was the model off, or pose off, or whatever they called it in Zoolander. This was by far the best and only worth watching part of the movie.
Entirely unrelated to dance-offs: I forgot to say I like Oingo Boingo and Danny Elfman too. I always cheer when his name comes up in the credits. :)
I take it music videos are out of the running or someone might have mentioned, Michael Jackson's, "Beat it", "Smooth Criminal" or even "Thriller". I haven't watched "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" lately, but there were monsters dancing in that one too. My vote is for the South Park episode where Randy shows his son how to bust a move and Butters goes all "Carey" on dozens of innocents with his deadly tap shoe. Priceless entertainment!
I can't believe no one mentioned "Grease", a dance-off involving two girls for the affection of one guy. "Flashdance" and "Save the Last Dance" were solo females dancing but won their man in the end. At the end of "Dirty Dancing" there's a dance-off to prove the main characters' worth. In "Murphy's Romance" two guys fight over dancing with Sally Field only to end up dancing with each other. Seems to be a PC screenwriting version of the pissing contest.
Dancing movies are a guilty pleasure of mine, most of the best have already been mentioned so I'll just mention one of my favorite obscure classics "Fast Forward." Directed by none other then Sidney Poitier, with musical direction by Quincy Jones, it's classic 80's cheezy goodness. 8 seniors from Ohio runaway to NY to become dancers and engage in at least 3 dance-offs that I can remember. I have no idea how they got Quincy Jones and Sidney Poitier involved in this movie.
Oh, and how can no one have mentioned "Girl's Just Want to Have Fun!" starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt?! Dance off after dance off!
there is a slightly different take on a 'dance-off' in Frida.
selma hayek steams. tis an excellent film.
i just love this damn blog (and everyone who comments to it too). it's freakin addictive.
i watched 4 films last weekend. reviews (somewhat shorter than David's here) are at: thebuckstops.blogspot.com ("the movies" post)
rock on.
im trying to remember but im sure there was a dance off in a THE STATE episode that involved Amish and orthodox Jews. and then after the victors are declared, high school nun teachers step in.
expressing ones inner emotions through a serious dance routine RULES!!!
Mr. captain magnificent.
correction: In Rocky Horror there are no dancing monsters, just dancing transvestites, which I don't think constitute as monsters... I may be wrong...
As for good dance-offs... Carousel has a big one between the fishermen and the sailors... I would think with all the Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly movies I know I wouldn't have such a hard time with this...
Rats! Someone already said Zoolander.
Monsters, eh? Don't know if this counts, but Love at First Bite has a dance-off between the vampire and the girlfriend for who has the right to share Jim Carrey's bed.
There was a girl vs girl dance off in Once Bitten. one of Jim Carrey's earliest films where he is a virgin highschool student who is saught after by the count. A female vampire who needs the blood of a virgin to sustain her youthful appearance. Anyways they are at the schools costume party/dance thing and the vampire chick shows up and gets into a dance off with jim's girl friend who hes been trying to nail in his ice cream truck for as long as he can remember. Cool sceen cause jim carrey did an exellent job with the dancing. its funny as hell too.
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