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Poster for Shall We Dance?

Shall We Dance?

Step out of the ordinary.

2004 · 1h 46m · PG-13 Comedy, Drama, Romance
Directed by Peter Chelsom

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Overview

A bored estate lawyer spots a beautiful woman in the window of a ballroom dance studio. He secretly starts taking dancing lessons to be near her, and then over time discovers how much he loves dancing. His wife, meanwhile, has hired a private detective to find out why he has started coming home late smelling of perfume.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
46%
Tomatometer
Rotten

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.

Amy Simmons, Time Out
Rotten

Under the clunky direction of Peter Chelsom, while forced to mouth inane dialogue by Audrey Wells ... a swell bunch of troupers get mangled in a monsoon of cliches.

Rex Reed, New York Observer
Rotten

There are so many appealing performers in Shall We Dance? that it's a crime the director, Peter Chelsom, and the screenwriter, Audrey Wells, haven't given them more to do.

Charles Taylor, Salon.com
Rotten

Occasionally charming but ultimately forgettable bit of fox-trot fluff.

Jen Chaney, Washington Post
Fresh

Takes a small, exquisite Japanese movie and turns it into a big, stupid American movie. Still, it must be said that as glossy and overproduced as the thing is, it's a good Big Stupid American movie.

Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

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