Mad About Mambo (2000)

Before she became America's sweetheart in Felicity, Keri Russell adopted an Irish brogue and starred as a willowy, wealthy lass with a passion for dancing in this coming-of-age romantic comedy. She's the object of affection for working-class William Ash, a football-loving lad who signs up for classes, hoping to acquire a little of the Latin flair of a Brazilian soccer superstar with moves like Fred Astaire. "We don't run with the ball, we dance," and so does Ash when he falls for snooty class star Russell. Imagine an adolescent mix of Strictly Ballroom and Shall We Dance dropped into 1980s Belfast amid the Troubles, complete with "the big dance contest," romantic complications, and a splashy happy ending.

The charismatic Russell is a fine dancer and shows moxie between icy stares and swoony looks. Unfortunately Ash is never more than a generic, spunky street kid with a heart of gold. Writer-director John Forte injects the working-class edge of British comedies with his off-handed inclusion of political tensions and prickly classist remarks. Nothing too surprising ever complicates the romance as the gritty world melts into an unlikely fairy tale in a silly but rousing climax. The film's not really credible, but Russell's charms and the sheer energy and color of the dancing give it the innocence of an old-fashioned musical amid the tense realities of real life. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

Fun and moving!

Okay, so maybe you wouldn't watch the movie for the dancing alone -- though that part of it is fun. But the story is so touching. Check out how noble and selfless Danny's love is: how fearlessly he pursues uptown girl Lucy, but without allowing himself to be treated like a doormat. His character alone is worth watching the movie 100 times for...but the dancing and fun Latin beats add a lot as well. August 10, 2007

Warning: No Mambo

Cute romantic comedy - watch it for the romance, for the soccer, for the actors, but don't watch it for the dancing. You ballroom people will notice right away that there is no mambo in the movie, mostly samba and a bit of rumba. That said, you don't see much of the dancing: the cameras focus mostly on the faces and leave you wondering about the footwork. Also, very limited choreography - same steps over and over throughout the film.

Nevertheless, it's a fun movie overall, and the acting is very good. December 5, 2005

"Now THAT girl would like great in chiffon!"

"Mad About Mambo" is a slight but fun film starring Keri Russell and William Ash as Lucy and Danny, two mismatched dance partners in modern day Belfast. Russell is a spoiled princess, Ash is a working class football (or soccer, depending on what side of the pond you're on) player, and together they overcome many obstacles, some of which pretty silly, before finally making their dreams come true.

Russell displays a surprising talent for dancing (and accents), holding herself like a dancer and managing the steps with ease. Ash is not as good; but then, he's not supposed to be. The supporting cast is great, with the standout being Danny's fashion-obsessed best friend. The dance sequences are decent but not stellar, with the real reason to see the film being the sweet portrait of Irish life.

For dance-film lovers, I would say this film is well-below "Strictly Ballroom" but well-above "Save the Last Dance". You may also enjoy it if you like romantic comedies or films about Ireland. Enjoy!

Grade: B/B- June 20, 2003

Great movie and music!

I love to watch this movie over and over again. It has great music. I was very sad to find there is no soundtrack to this movie but I have found a couple of the artists names that have songs on this movie if anyone is wondering. One of the songs "One Night" is from The Corrs and another song that is played at the end of the movie is called "Digge Dime" is from Burlap to Cashmere. You can find those songs on CD's here on Amazon. Check them out! Otherwise enjoy watching the movie over and over again like do. Wish they would release this on DVD at some point. January 25, 2003

If you like soccer....

I'd say this is more of a movie for teens and soccer fans. The plot isnt terrible but what made me like it is the soccer action. "Danny" is definatly a good player and his skills are impressive. So if you like soccer and maybe wanna pick up a few new moves, watch the movie. November 28, 2002

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