Take the Lead

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Take the Lead

PG-13

2006

1h 57m

Musical

Drama

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Popcornmeter

44%

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121 Reviews

77%

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250,000+ Ratings

When internationally renowned dancer Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) takes a teaching job in a New York City public school, he meets ridicule from the street-wise students, who scoff at the notion of ballroom dancing. Far from being discouraged, he melds their hip-hop moves with his classical style, helping them create a dance form and, in the process, becoming their mentor.

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Critics Consensus

Banderas is charismatic in the lead, and the dance sequences are captivating, but the story is too familiar and predictable.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Take the Lead, a dramatised retread of the hit documentary Mad Hot Ballroom, is so awful it defies describing.

Oct 7, 2018

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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.

May 6, 2006

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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.

Rated: 2.5/5

May 6, 2006

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

A slightly above average film largely due to an unexpectedly heartwarming, inspired performance from Antonio Banderas.

Rated: 2.5/4.0

Sep 25, 2020

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Take the Lead won't win any originality contests, but the new Antonio Banderas vehicle manages to work, thanks to a solid cast and some nice work by director Liz Friedlander.

Rated: B-

Nov 19, 2019

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Kam Williams

Upstage Magazine

Lean on Me meets Strictly Ballroom. Tough two-step replaces tough love.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 16, 2007

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andrzej w

It may not be revolutionary or original but it has soul; Great performance from Antonio Banderas.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Between 2.5 and 3 stars. A too many times told story (white professor saves blacks boys), with a few clichés, but, anyway, it works in its style.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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nilufer e

Probably because I have two left feet and no sense of rhythm I love movies about dancing. This one also had a good plot based on a real life story. The only dance scene Antonio Banderas had was to die for.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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steve d

Cute but somewhat forgettable. Antonio Banderas is a blast in it though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Take the lead isn't so much a motion picture as it is a lesson in how to force-feed every aspect of cinema into a formula. There's not a lot I can say in defense of Take the Lead. It's a Hollywood product, likely designed primarily for the DVD market. In the interests of maximum appeal, it loses any potential hard edges, soft peddling tough issues that deserve to be shown in their full ugliness. I don't doubt that there's a good story to be found in Dulaine's experiences, but it's not told here. If the topic interests you, I suggest bypassing Take the Lead and renting Mad Hot Ballroom. Not only is it a better made film, but it features richer characters and is a lot more suspenseful. (Could have been better but for the lack of a story).

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

Extremely predictable, but hey the dancing and soundtrack is damn good

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/23/19

Full Review

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Liz Friedlander

Director

Antonio Banderas

Pierre Dulaine

Rob Brown

Rock

Alfre Woodard

Augustine James

Yaya DaCosta

LaRhette

Lauren Collins

Caitlin

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Synopsis

When internationally renowned dancer Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) takes a teaching job in a New York City public school, he meets ridicule from the street-wise students, who scoff at the notion of ballroom dancing. Far from being discouraged, he melds their hip-hop moves with his classical style, helping them create a dance form and, in the process, becoming their mentor.

Director: Liz Friedlander
Producer: Christopher Godsick, Michelle Grace, Diane Nabatoff
Screenwriter: Dianne Houston
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Tiara Blue Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Language|Thematic Material)
Genre: Musical, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 7, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $34.7M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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