Here’s a surprising and imaginative dance film that’s a nice change of pace.  It’s called Musical Chairs and I enjoy the creative way that Director Susan Seidelman handles the sensitive subject matter.  It may be out of step for men, but the ladies will love this romantic drama that features some whimsy as well.

The film involves a top competitive ballroom dancer, Mia who on one tragic night gets hit by a car and rendered paralyzed from the waste down.  Distraught with her inability to complete in ballroom, she starts to spiral downward.  Feeling a sense of guilt for distracting Mia when she stepped into traffic, aspiring dancer Armando becomes determined to bring her back from the abysmal misfortune. When he hears about a special international wheelchair ballroom dancing competition, Armando feels the wheels turning in his head and the determination to make Mia ‘whole’ again.

The inspiring movie has some very moving scenes that are handled well by Director Susan Seidelman (Desperately Seeing Susan).  She works her character into this amazing dancer that rises to the top of her game then brings her to her knees with the tragedy.  It’s a heartbreaker, but one that shows there’s always a game changer when Armando puts his own life on hold helping her to reclaim her pride.

Leah Pipes as Mia and EJ Bonilla as Armando

All her characters are interesting, fun and determined to be part of the world of dance and romance.  I like the way she infuses several stories of despair to realization and then hope around the main subject, making the show uplifting rather than an over-sentimental nightmare.

Her cast lead by Leah Pipes and E.J. Bonilla bring their characters to peaks of highs and then lows with seemingly little effort.  Pipes’ Mia takes center stage showing the heartfelt return from the tragedy.  She works well with Bonilla and both their dancing and romantic chemistry show brilliance.

Laverne Cox plays the energetic Chantelle

Seidelman levels out the playing field with some light comedy introducing a group of rehabilitating patients who join in with Armando, each adding their own adventure.  The showstopper however is Laverne Cox who plays the transgender Chantelle an energetic whirlwind looking for love in all the right places.  When she latches on to Wilfredo played by Nelson Landrieu the comedy kicks up a notch and it spreads all over the screen.

Musical Chairs  has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for language, some sexual material and a brief drug reference.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A perfect film for a ‘ladies night out’. (B-)

Additional film information:

• Cast: Leah Pipes, E.J. Bonilla, Priscilla Lopez, Jaime Tirelli, Laverne Cox, Nelson Landrieu, Angelic Zambrana, Morgan Spector, Auti Angel, Jerome Preston Bates, Dominic Colon and Joey Dedio.
• Directed by: Susan Seidelman
• MPAA Rating: PG-13
• Genre: Drama, Romance, Dance
• Running Time: 1 hr 40 min
• Opening Date: March 23, 2012
• Distributed by: Paladin