Although I enjoyed “Young@Heart” more, “Gotta Dance,” a high-energy pleaser, had me smiling and tapping my toe. Dori Berinstein’s documentary chronicles the formation of the NETsationals, a senior dance team for the New Jersey Nets. Berinstein, who usually produces Broadway musicals, explained in a recent discussion that she had wanted to make a movie about people chasing their dreams. When she read the Nets audition notice for dancers 60 and above in the paper, she grabbed her camera. And with the Nets giving her access to the rehearsals and performances of this unusual dance troupe, Berinstein has created the feel-good movie of the summer.
“Gotta Dance” tells the stories of everyday people tackling new challenges and discovering that getting old is a state of mind, especially because the NETsationals have to learn hip hop routines. The best scenes revolve around Betsy, a matronly 64-year-old elementary school teacher who calls her wilder alter ego Betty; Fanny, an energetic 81-year-old Filipina, the grandmother of a Nets dancer; Deanna, a 64-year-old New York legal secretary; and Joe B., the only male member of the group. ‘Life doesn’t end at 60’ as “Gotta Dance” illustrates so well.
Note: “Young@Heart,” a 2008 documentary, has the same message, but tells the story of a senior singing group with more poignancy. This group of 60, 70 and 80-year-old singers lose some of their members along the way so they celebrate living with their music. You’ll laugh with them, but you’ll also cry. Rent this one.
1 comment:
"Gotta Dance" is a heart-warming documentary about some very amateur and very aged dancers who are under tremendous pressure to perform during half-time at the NJ Nets basketball games. The blogger does well to compare the film to one last year called "Young@Heart" and "Gotta Dance" would fare much better if it did not have Young@Heart to be compared with. If you want to see a superior film rent "Young@Heart", its a better and more heart-warming movie.
Post a Comment