Review:Razzle dazzle : A Journey into dance

Evidently the aim is to hook the pre-teenager with a show biz story revolving around children’s dance troupes. And Australian director Ashton’s low-budget comedy is intermittently successful in its bid to win a niche audience, writes Rashid Irani.

Razzle dazzle : A Journey into dance

HT Image

Cast : Ben Miller, Kerry Armstrong

Direction : Darren Ashton

Rating : **&1/2

Evidently the aim is to hook the pre-teenager with a show biz story revolving around children’s dance troupes. And Australian director Ashton’s low-budget comedy is intermittently successful in its bid to win a niche audience.

Tapping into the conventions of the mockumentary genre, the narrative blends rather dull talking-heads interviews with grainy home movie-style footage.

Two groups of young Aussie hoofers are training to participate in a big dance competition. The instructor (Miller) of the Jazzketeers class is an innovator whose routines aspire to reflect the injustices of the world. By contrast, his straight- laced rival teaches her pupils old-fashioned dance techniques. No medallions for guessing the outcome.

The script in unduly manipulative, what with plenty of in-fighting and last-minute fiascos. The drab visual style is a another deterrent. As for the climactic dance sequences, they are devoid of razzle dazzle.

Both Ben Miller and Kerry Armstrong as an overly ambitious parent are camera-friendly enough.The child dancers are endearing, though.