Dance Party USA (2006)

86% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(1,146 ratings)

An apathetic seventeen-year old shares a dark secret that causes his aimless new friend to immediately sever ties in director Aaron Katz's talky teen drama. Gus spends most of his time relating self-indulgent tales of sexual conquests and drug fueled frenzies to his best friend Bill. Jessica seems… More An apathetic seventeen-year old shares a dark secret that causes his aimless new friend to immediately sever ties in director Aaron Katz's talky teen drama. Gus spends most of his time relating self-indulgent tales of sexual conquests and drug fueled frenzies to his best friend Bill. Jessica seems to be drifting away from most of her friends, and lately things have gotten so bad that she isn't even speaking with her one-time best-friend Christie. Every Fourth of July all the kids gather at Brian's house to drink free beer and watch the fireworks. This year, Gus meets Jessica at the party and tries to pick her up. When she blows off his obvious come-on, Gus tells Jessica a secret that he has never revealed to even his closest of friends. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 6 min.
Directed By: Aaron Katz
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Nov 15, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Jan 29, 2008

Critic Reviews

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
A pair of disaffected 17-year-olds are nudged toward adulthood in a movie that favors natural drift over artificial drama.
Jordan Harper, Village Voice
Given the obvious financial restraints (the total budget was $3,000), maybe Dance Party should have been a dynamite short.
Anton Bitel, Film4
captures with apparent effortlessness the tongue-tied self-consciousness and dreamy disorientation that growing up entails.
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog
Both languid and totally economical; in terms of action, virtually nothing "happens," and yet if there's any fat to cut, I can't find it.
Shawn Levy, Oregonian
Dance Party, USA is part of a new direction for independent film: homemade movies that feel more personal than communitarian and, as a result, seem less moralizing and dogmatic than the familiar, tired Sundance model.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Dramatically simple but emotionally complex.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
A film of easy set ups and resolutions, Dance Party, USA is best when observing how crisis is metabolized.
Darcie Stevens, Austin Chronicle
Challenging, gritty, and true.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

As part of the so called mumblecore movement, this film like Funny Ha Ha is improvised and goes for reality over entertainment, which isn't always a good thing. The characters are interesting enough, though often the conversations seem flat and uninspired. A reflection of life… More
As part of the so called mumblecore movement, this film like Funny Ha Ha is improvised and goes for reality over entertainment, which isn't always a good thing. The characters are interesting enough, though often the conversations seem flat and uninspired. A reflection of life itself but not an interesting one. At 65 minutes it is short and very sweet with a touching ending. The acting is okay, having the awkward relationships means awkward performances are fully acceptable. I'm not a fan of the digital look here, looks too much like a home movie. A nice little film, with some dark themes.

Cast

Anna Kavan
as Jessica
Cole Pensinger
as Gus
Ryan White
as Bill

Sarah Bing
as Christie
Natalie Buller
as Kate
Chad Hartigan
as Sam

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Dance Party USA (2006)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

Cast

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