I absolutely don't get it. do people really care about this kind of dancing / competition? does it still go on somewhere in the world? Maybe so, but it's not MY world, and it holds little fascination for me. The plot itself is as cliche'd as it could possibly be, so if you're not into dance competitions, the only thing left to draw you in is the romantic angle. THAT aspect is pretty subdued, though I was definitely intrigued by the female lead. If not for her unique, natural charm, I couldn't have made it to the end of the movie. i literally would have turned it off, or thrown a brick through the screen. Maybe this is just a chick-flick. If you're a guy, don't expect much.

I feel funny commenting on this movie so long after the fact but couldn't resist. I saw this movie originally in the theatre ages ago when it was first released. I can recall the experience so vividly because of the impact this movie made on me and my drastic change of opinion over the course of the movie. I had no inkling what the film was about because it was a friend's pick, and for the first 20 minutes I wondered what was going on and would have considered walking out if it weren't for my friends. Shortly it became VERY clear it was a satire and was poking fun at the whole ballroom dancing 'phenomenon'. The exaggerations were very funny, and in addition you had the ugly duckling theme and romance between an unlikely couple. ** SPOILER….. My favorite scene and one I consider to be one of the best examples of film chemistry is the sexy but subtle dance scene when Fran and Scott are dancing behind the curtain while the dance competitors do a parody out on the floor. ** I feel really sorry for the people that don't seem to get it- there were several reviewers who didn't seem to understand the fact that this is a satire. And don't think to compare it to Moulin Rouge. While they both are kinetic and bright and strange, you approach them in completely different ways- Moulin Rouge is spectacular and quirky in its way, but not funny in the way Strictly Ballroom is. Just watch this without any preconceived notions and you might come out of it humming and smiling like an idiot like I did. (And no, it's not a chick flick, the guys that were with us then and who have borrowed my copy since have enjoyed it just as much). 10/10- One of my favorites

I gave it a 2 - only because the relatively catchy soundtrack kept it from being any rated any lower. Maybe I just don't understand Baz Luhrman's approach, but I just don't get it. If I had to choose between this movie and Moulin Rouge, I think I would pray for a massive power outage and so that I can read a book by candlelight instead of watching either of these self-indulgent, over-acted, seriously over-hyped piles of crap! There is good costuming, but lordy knows that there is nothing resembling a plot. Other reviewers have compared it to "Top Gun" with music, I think it more like a Batman-serial - good versus evil, lone wolf against the establishment, cheesy villains, wooden dialog. Seen the plot a thousand times, and almost always done with more taste. Sorry - I just can't keep writing, words are starting to fail. Don't waste the $2.00 to rent this, go get "Shall We Dance" or "Dirty Dancing" and get it out of your system.

Part realistic, part fairy tale, this is spirited satirical romp through the world of Australian competitive Ballroom Dancing. The performances are uniformly winning, especially Paul Mercurio (a natural in his first starring role), Bill Hunter (the King of Australian comedy films), and Pat Thomson (as a hysterical bulldozer of a stage mother). Close scrutiny reveals two major flaws, however. The character of Fran (Tara Morice) is much too "ugly duckling" at the beginning of the film; no one as intelligent and self-aware as she is could remain so clumsy and plain into adulthood. I can buy the blossoming of self-esteem through love, but there's only so much love can do. The other problem is larger: the "revolutionary" dancing Scott and Fran are doing is virtually indistinguishable from the staid, boring styles they are supposedly rebelling against. It looks better because of how the director and editor presented it, but there is little if any qualitative difference. That said, the film is well worth a look, with guaranteed laughs, excitement, and an interesting soundtrack.

Terrible title, "Strictly Ballroom." Even though I had heard it was a very good film I avoided it for years. Today, I picked up a copy at our just re-opened public library and watched it tonight. What a treat! Baz Lurhman of recent "Moulin Rouge" fame wrote and directed it, in large part based on his own adventures in Australian ballroom dancing. And the film is an extension of the stage production of "Strictly Ballroom" which he also starred in. A better title might be "NOT Strictly Ballroom." The young protagonist has all the moves but wants to break out of the regimented ballroom steps that the stuffy ballroom judges want to preserve. He finds a partner who is really a beginner, but her father and grandmother join forces to teach both of them to feel the dance in their hearts. The stuffy old judge pulls the plug on the music, but the audience and other dance partners at the competition begin rythmic clapping for them to dance. Oh, and of course, they fall in love in the process. There are several interesting extras on the DVD, including a 30-minute feature on actual Australian ballroom dancers, their stories, and the results of a competition. A very entertaining film for anyone who like dancing, and a good story.

This is a wretched movie. Vaccuous, cliched characters. Yeah, we all agree it's no "Godfather," but there is nothing worthwhile in this movie. Now before you ignore this review, know that I enjoy dancing and have taken dance classes for a year and a half. I enjoy good dancing. I enjoy comedies. Just because this is a comedy, doesn't mean it has to be devoid of all cleverness and originality. You want amusing overacting in a clever film? Watch George C. Scott in "Dr. Strangelove." You want lighthearted, capricious entertainment? Watch the French film, "Amelie." "Airplane" is great if you want sight gags. "The Graduate," "Groundhog Day," "Rushmore," and "Deconstructing Harry" are fabulous comedies. Watch them instead. I suppose "Strictly Ballroom" is enjoyed by the same audience that likes Ally McBeal. Obvious, dumbed-down humor: sight gags and appeals to baseness. This movie is as formulaic and replaceable as it gets.

I watched this with great expectations--everyone had told me it was a must-see. For the first 50 minutes I had absolutely no idea what anyone could possibly see in this film. The characters were all one-dimensional, the "plot" made after-school specials look good, and the storyline was completely predictable. But then the Pasadoble scene came and I was glad I'd forced myself to keep watching. If only the rest of the film could have been that good. Not long after, the movie returned to schlock status and stayed there until the end. The final dance scene is worth seeing, but of course it is--it's the morality play coming to a conclusion. Good absolutely must prevail over evil, right? The real question is how so many viewers have allowed themselves to be manipulated into liking the "good dance heals all wounds" lesson. In fact, this film was so heavy-handed it's essentially Top Gun with dancing instead of fighter jets: Outcast bad-boy wrestles with personal & social pressures but prevails in the end and gets the girl. We've been there before and know the story, which makes this film unnecessary.

This was nothing like I expected at first. It's got the frenetic sense of humour that most Australian films of the period exuded, for one thing. And it's not a simple boy-meets-girl-and-they-dance story...that's the heart of it, but there's a lot of weirdness along the way. Basically, it's in-fighting backstage at Come Dancing. It begins Baz Luhrmann's ascent to greatness. And it features a truly odd performance from Barry Otto as Scott's father.

That is all. Nothing engaging, uncomfortable close ups and dodgy audio

Baz Lurhman's first film is a piece of film that is worthy of more that it is given. It is absolutely cheesy in every way shape and form, however you love it more because of this. The attention to detail in the direction is fantastic, each scene is done with glistening sense of bewilderment and beauty. The acting is very plausible and energetic, the dance is done with with verve and style. The music fits in well within the story. From the beginning it's all very heart warming, but the end scene gave me tingles up and down my arm. It's an enjoyable film, but at times you wonder whether your feeling bewildered, entertained or thrilled. What ever you feel for this film, you cannot put it down for the stylised direction, and the extravagant behaviour of the characters. See if you like Moulin Rouge, Dirty dancing or Romeo and Juliet. *original review written by me at 15, re-written at 22* Of all the reviews I wrote in my teens this has to be my favourite, namely because I still whole-heartedly love this film. I called it cheesy, but I'm retracting this its not cheesy, its flamboyant and its flamboyant in the best possible way. Strictly Ballroom will alienate some with how over-the-top the whole thing is, but there is no denying that this makes it all the more engaging. Like a fantasy film, it manages to take you to a new world. It takes you to a place only film and(to lesser extent)stage can take you. Strictly Ballroom gives you a window to look through, a world of dance and instead of tentatively peering through it, forces you right up against it, where a sea of multicoloured dresses and sequins lie. Strictly Ballroom is a all hands on deck movie that will either leave you wide-eyed and bewildered or alienated and scared. But whatever it ends up leaving you, I would highly recommend watching if you have not already seen it. And this is coming from me 7 years later, as an adult, a film-making student and someone who isn't usually a fan of this kind of film.