Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance
Razzle Dazzle follows the eager members of "Mr. Jonathon's Dance Academy" who, with their unique dance routines, compete for Grand Final success at Australia's most prestigious competition. Amidst parental politics, petty rivalry, creative controversy and the hysterics of pushy stage mothers, the film takes you behind the glamor and the glitter to a world where, sometimes, winning is everything!
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- Cast:
- Ben Miller , Kerry Armstrong , Denise Roberts , Sallyanne Ryan , Steve Le Marquand , Tara Morice
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Reviews
Pretty Good
I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
1 word- FABULOUS. not your average movie at all! Razzle Dazzle is an Australian based movie but a fake documentary. It is so full of unexpected jokes and wise cracks. i found it wonderful.Only 1 thing some people i complained about was the fuzziness in the beginning. I think it was just a bit of an affect and made no damage to the movie. Ben Miller is great in this movie but it was Kerry Armstrongs act as a pushy stage mother that had me in tears. She is just so into her character in the movie. She tries to make her daughter seem the best in front of others and tells her off for each little mistake. What i found most funny was the fact she took her daughter in for a nose job (which of course didn't happen) and complained how she might end up with her fathers nose. Though the concept of the movie is based on what happens in the homes and studios of the children, the main focus is the competition. They compete in a style of dance telling a story.I recommend this movie for people whom enjoy dancing and comedies.
I was eager to see this new Australian film, as I am for all Aussie films, as I love just about everything that the industry comes up with. I have to say though, I was disappointed with the movie on the whole and found it very tedious and at times wanted to leave the cinema.I found myself shifting around in my seat, spacing in and out every now and then and pretty much wanting to leave.Now, that's not to say I didn't find parts of the movie bearable - witty and funny bits were splashed about everywhere. When it came to piecing the whole movie together, however, it just fell flat.Kerry Armstrong is the exception. I found myself sitting up in my seat and smiling every time she came on screen because each scene she was in was hilarious and bright. Jane Hall also gave a very good performance. The five-second appearance by one of my favourite actresses Rachel Gordon was a little more than a blink-and-you'd-miss-it scene which was disappointing because she deserves so much more than what she is given.All in all, Razzle Dazzle gave it a fair go but with the majority of the adult audience it didn't match the hype it received before the movie came out. Young kids would enjoy it for the singing and dancing routines, and I'm sure many adults could find something they liked about it as well.I couldn't help but picture Chris Lilley (King of the Australian Mockumentary) playing Mr Jonathon and wondering if he might have been just the thing to spruce it up a bit.
I watched Razzle Dazzle today not knowing much about it before hand, and therefore not having any great expectations. I love a good mockumentary, and if I had to compare it to any other, I would say it was in the same vein as "Drop Dead Gorgeous". But of course it had that Australian flavour to it which therefore meant the characters were a bit more relatable for me. Kerry Armstrong was wonderful as a pushy stage mother. This role could easily have gone into cliché but Kerry is such a good actress that she manages to get you to almost (only almost) fully understand her motives. Of course her daughter Tenille doesn't need to be pushed too hard, she wants it just as much. In contrast to Justine and Tenille, Nadine Garner's character of young Grace's mother is more of an interested outsider. She encourages her daughter, but it is Grace who is much more motivated and has the desire. The characters of Mr Jonothan and Miss Elizabeth are also complete contrasts - one is nurturing, the other a harsh task master. Miss Elizabeth also has the best cat's bum face I've ever seen. Denise Richards as Barbara the serial foster mother is a riot, while I didn't even recognise Tara Morice until the credits... but I did enjoy her rendition of "Gold". Overall, the film was gently over the top, which I feel is the point of mockumentaries, while simultaneously making us feel for the characters. Razzle Dazzle is well written and very well acted. Good job.
This movie is definitely one of the best Australian movies in recent times. Kerry Armstrong's character of Justine will go down in Australian cinema history as one of the most memorable characters of all time, right up there with Babe, Picnic at Hanging Rock's Miranda, Mick Dundee, the drag queens from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Darryl Kerrigan. It is fantastic to see a good Australian comedy for a change, and even if this is not a box office smash, it will become one of those Australian movies which Australians love.It is a perfect example of a great Aussie parody. It examines, in a humorous way, stage mothers at their worst. Everyone will love the antics of Justine and the other stage parents as they push their children to the limit.This is one of those must watch movies that everyone should see!!!!