Take the Lead (2006)

44% of critics liked it
(119 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(350,712 ratings)

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… More 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 teach them how to dance in the classic style, they're incredulous at best and dismissive at worst -- until Dulaine demonstrates his moves for the class. While Dulaine's charges -- including Rock (Rob Brown), LaRhette (Yaya DaCosta), Ramos (Dante Basco), Eddie (Marcus T. Paulk), and Sasha (Jenna Dewan) -- respect his talent, they have their own way of dancing, and as they mix hip-hop moves with ballroom discipline, they create an exciting new style. Dulaine also strives to instill self-confidence and a work ethic in his kids, insisting they can make their way out of the ghetto if they're willing to try. Screenwriter Dianne Houston based Take the Lead on the real-life story of Pierre Dulaine, who taught dance as a volunteer to at-risk students at New York elementary schools. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Liz Friedlander
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Drama

In Theaters: Apr 7, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Aug 29, 2006
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
it's just ridiculous, it's just ridiculous. One cliché right after another. Not for one second did I believe any of this.
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
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.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
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.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
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.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
Although based on a true story, Take the Lead continually strains credibility.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
One of the year's most uninspired inspirational stories.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
NYC high schoolers saved by ballroom dancing.
Kam Williams, San Francisco Post
Lean on Me meets Strictly Ballroom. Tough two-step replaces tough love.
Jette Kernion, Cinematical
Feels like a product, with decisions made for audience appeal rather than creativity.
David Noh, Film Journal International
For the most part, Liz Friedlander's direction and frenetic pacing mitigate any real performance opportunities.
Camerin Courtney, Christianity Today
A fun romp of a flick that showcases the power of dance and the human spirit.
Staci Layne Wilson, Buzzine Magazine
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.
Collin Souter, eFilmCritic.com
The poster says 'Never follow', while the movie itslef follows every cliche in the book.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
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
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
A bogus, trumped-up 'inspirational' ending goes on forever and all but ruins everything.
Stella Papamichael, BBC
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.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
It's still enjoyable, but never as strong as it should be.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
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.
Anna Smith, Time Out
While their transformation is predictable, it's quietly enjoyable, and the teen angle opens the door to romance and gritty gang-war subplots.
Helen OHara, Empire Magazine
The energy and rhythm keep it moving along gracefully.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bethany M

Another great dance film. The fact that it was a true story made me like it more. Made it much more honest and happier.
Jennifer X

The whole bring-culture-to-the-inner-city-kids thing is so overdone, but the dances are nice.
Thomas B

really moving story about a dance teacher. the only difficulty the movie shows is trying to keep track of and further so many different stories and characters.
Keith A

An inspiring, foot-stomping, entertaining dance movie that will entertain both younger and older viewers.
EightThirty .

I liked this one...Not bad...very good actually ^_^
Rachel F

It was ok.
Lanning :

Clarke, my apologies in advance. Sorry, but this was about as not really good as I worried it might be. Again, Clarke, sorry, but I strongly advise flixsters who might read this not to watch this. Sorry, it's not really very good. Life truly is sometimes shorter than we… More
Clarke, my apologies in advance. Sorry, but this was about as not really good as I worried it might be. Again, Clarke, sorry, but I strongly advise flixsters who might read this not to watch this. Sorry, it's not really very good. Life truly is sometimes shorter than we think, and ars, especially ars like this project, really won't be longa -- actually shorta, no kidding . . .
Jason S

Not that bad but that same as all the other movies of it's kind.
Morgan S

good even tho i dont like rap. wish i could dance like that tee hee
Dean M

Absolutely tango dance and ballroom! What I thought of Antonio is alike Aussie Paul Mercurio in Strictly Ballroom (1992).
Jason T

Your typical cliche dance movie with an enjoyable performance by Banderas. The dance scenes in this movie are amazing but usually poorly placed but like I said its a cliche dance movie. Altogether an enjoyable movie.
Dannielle A

I can't complain about anything in this movie. It was very well done!
Joseph E

Take The Lead is a surely Energetic, Sound, and Inspiring Real-Life story, Yet it is less Convincing then the Unsurreal "Save the Last Dance". I truely enjoyed this film and the way merged two dance styles, and how there was a person who actually did this for real.
Yinalí R

Awesome movie. Very sexy tango.
Deb S

Based on a true story, the movie tells of the struggle of a dance teacher, Pierre Dulain (Antonio Banderas), to give to a group of problem kids a second chance by exploring their dance skills. Nice!
William G

Generic and predictable, yet works just enough to excuse the fact that it is utterly unnecessary.
Andrew F

It was actually a pretty good movie. The characters could have been a little more developed though. I also would have liked more dancing scenes like the one at the end. Definately underrated.
Jessica v

Points for style and Banderas's classic charm, but definitely lacking in most of the supporting cast and the script. While neither of the latter two are exceptionally bad, neither are memorable in the slightest. The choreography is great when it's not trying too hard (i.e.… More
Points for style and Banderas's classic charm, but definitely lacking in most of the supporting cast and the script. While neither of the latter two are exceptionally bad, neither are memorable in the slightest. The choreography is great when it's not trying too hard (i.e. the last number), which also carries over to the plot. There's only so many life lessons and morals I can learn from ballroom, pretty as it is. Cure cancer it will not.
Sarah B

For the incredibly sexy Antonio Banderas.
John A

Despite a mild level of charm, and its true-life story basis, 'Take the Lead' simply conforms to far too many cliches of the relatively new 'dance-off' genre to resonate with the viewer in any impressive form. Antonio Banderas suits the role of romantic, if… More
Despite a mild level of charm, and its true-life story basis, 'Take the Lead' simply conforms to far too many cliches of the relatively new 'dance-off' genre to resonate with the viewer in any impressive form. Antonio Banderas suits the role of romantic, if slightly irritating Pierre Dulane, a professional ballroom dancer who aims to turn a bunch of street-wise, actually quite intelligent kids who don't really apply themselves academically into the best of the business. Predictably, the majority of the kids have terrible home-lives, and a pair who dislike each other on the basis of family rivalry, of course, strike up a romantic relationship by the end. The story works conventionally, in a routine, typical manner, and only the occassional sprinkle of humour helps to deviate from the tiresome dance moves - in real-life they would be sure to impress, but the director doesn't radiate nearly enough energy to wow his audience. The ending picks up the pace, but its sudden closure and anti-climatic feel are not likely to go down well with whom the film is intended for either. 'Take the Lead' is in no way a bad film, and the great character dynamics give it a different edge to other such films - here all the characters do have fleshed out personalities, rather than carboard cut-out stereotypes - even if such personalities aren't truly original, they interest on a greater level. The film just about works, despite it's predictable nature - go in with low expectations, and you're sure to be pleased all the same.