Shall We Dance?

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Shall We Dance?

PG-13

Released Oct 15, 2004

1h 46m

Romance

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

47%

Tomatometer

156 Reviews

57%

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100,000+ Ratings

Despite having a great career and a loving family, lawyer John Clark (Richard Gere) is missing something in his life as he meanders listlessly from day to day. On his commute back home one night, Clark notices a stunning woman (Jennifer Lopez) in a dance studio and decides on a whim to join a class for ballroom dancing. While Clark finds a new spark in his life, his wife, Beverly (Susan Sarandon), grows suspicious of his frequent absences, since he decides to keep his dancing a secret.

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Critics Consensus

The cast is warmly appealing, but with the loss of cultural context and addition of big-name celebrities, this American version loses the nuances of the original.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Cute romance that is marred by homophobia.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 28, 2010

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Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

It's rather cute, but only the truly girly will fall for the decidedly Officer And A Gentlemanly denouement that injects a belated sexy note.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2006

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Amy Simmons

Time Out

Offers attractive, inoffensive characters and a smattering of broad laughs, but it fails to use its potential to explore weightier themes such as John's mid-life crisis.

Jun 24, 2006

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

A sunny, life-affirming celebration of simply hoofing it, any old how.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 21, 2020

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Miles Fielder

The List

British director Peter Chelsom proves to be an inspired choice. Dressing the film with an eye-pleasing kitsch retro look and sprinkling the proceedings with moments of eccentric humor, he recalls his fine earlier films.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 23, 2019

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Deborah Hornblow

Hartford Courant

"Shall We Dance?'' celebrates marriage, self-renewal, the benefits of acting on impulse and the courage to dance to your own mambo beat. Audiences susceptible to its charms will be dancing down the aisles.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 2, 2018

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Norma D

Romantic comedy about ballroom dancing and relationships of all sorts. Ensemble acting by many fine actors. I also loved the Asian original. It helps that one of my daughters is a ballroom dancer.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/24

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Cleveland E

In typical Hollywood fashion, by taking big names, big stars to guarantee audience turnout, they meanwhile ruin the movie in the process. It lacks all the simple & subtle nuances of the original Japanese film — How can the director & produces be given a great script and movie & somehow manage to do everything wrong? Only Hollywood can f something up so badly.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/11/24

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David G

Found myself smiling through much of this movie. A wonderful tale of the mundane in life's routines, desires, lust, love, and outright joy . There's always a "this doesn't happen in real life" feeling about a movie like this, but I didn't care. Great cast, and great to have a movie like this! Pure entertainment with heart!! Loved it!!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/24

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Everardo C

Aunque convierte historia original, dulce y melodiosa en una comedia de situación torpe, cliché y tediosa. Aún tiene el suficiente encanto para atraparte y hacerte feliz un rato

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

Bruce T

This is a crappy American ripoff of a way better Japanese movie with the same title. The entire premise of the movie works in Japanese culture but not in American culture. Don't waste you time on this version! Find the original Japanese version and watch that.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/09/23

Full Review

Emilliano Jr S

I don't see any chemistry with the leads.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/27/23

Full Review

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Peter Chelsom

Director

Richard Gere

John Clark

Jennifer Lopez

Paulina

Susan Sarandon

Beverly Clark

Stanley Tucci

Link

Lisa Ann Walter

Bobbie

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Synopsis

Despite having a great career and a loving family, lawyer John Clark (Richard Gere) is missing something in his life as he meanders listlessly from day to day. On his commute back home one night, Clark notices a stunning woman (Jennifer Lopez) in a dance studio and decides on a whim to join a class for ballroom dancing. While Clark finds a new spark in his life, his wife, Beverly (Susan Sarandon), grows suspicious of his frequent absences, since he decides to keep his dancing a secret.

Director: Peter Chelsom
Producer: Jessica Kane Berman, Simon Fields
Screenwriter: Masayuko Suo, Audrey Wells
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexual References|Brief Language)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $57.9M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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