I know this film is from 2004, but it just happens that I have just seen it on TV. And it really made an impact on me, because first I thought it was extremely boring and I changed the channel several times, but there was nothing else worth seeing, I mean the alternative would've been the news! God help me, not on this time! So I had to continue watching the film and suddenly I thought it was very funny even though the film is not supposed to be funny, more like a light comedy. Some scenes were so ridiculous that I saw myself laughing both of the scene and the characters and the story. It's; you know like the middle aged professional lawyer that has an extremely boring family and job, he doesn't care for his wife but suddenly he sees a beautiful dance instructor through the train window which motivates him to change all his way of life. He just didn't know that he was a dancing talent like Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly! And this fabulous woman makes him see it just by swinging a little in the floor, and pang! he can dance Argentinian tango, American fox trot, waltz from Vienna, you name it; it was a miracle I was astonished. But I must admit it was a little frustrating that there is no real conclusion, I mean, like, there was this dancing contest that everybody was so interested in….. and we never see the ending of it so we will never know who won the contest! Oh; I know, they are surely filming a "Shall We Dance II" where we will know who won! So if you are bored go and look at it. Its surely worth the trouble to have your eyes open.

Shall We Dance? (2004): Dir: Peter Chelsom / Cast: Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Richard Jenkins: Romantic comedy about invitation or risk. Richard Gere is bored with his routine life and marriage. He arrives home by subway but always gazes upward towards the dance studio where Jennifer Lopez stands motionless. He secretly enrolls in ballroom dancing thus giving him fulfillment but his wife suspects foul play and hires an investigator. While repetitious the setup is catchy and the ending is rewarding. Director Peter Chelsom does a fine job at examining ballroom dancing within the relationship established but Jennifer Lopez is disappointing in a stiff performance. She begins the film as an image observed in a window with a blank gaze on her face. From there it is pretty straightforward for her. Gere has fun as a guy stepping into a hidden passion that will ultimately prove rewarding. Susan Sarandon is well cast as his suspicious wife who is speechless to the sudden new behavior from her husband. Stanley Tucci steals scenes as Gere's boss who secretly dances donning a wig. That of course, gives way to lame homosexual stereotypes but Tucci wings it. Richard Jenkins plays a private investigator hired by Sarandon, who will be flustered at the facts he unearths. Celebration of dancing and its inner circle relationships result in a charming film. Score: 8 ½ / 10

Richard Gere films fall into 2 categories me: "really like" and "really dislike." There seems to be little gray area. Count this one strongly in the "really like" column.An Americanized-version of the original Japanese film, the story is centered on Mr. Gere's character and his willingness to break his routine looking for more from life (some people do not appreciate how good they have it). His life from the outside looks enviable – great job, great wife (Susan Sarandon) and great family. But as Mr. Gere commutes home every night he spots the lovely and lonely-looking Jennifer Lopez peering out the window of a dance studio. On a whim, Mr. Gere jumps off the train and into the studio hoping to meet Ms. Lopez. He is quickly taught that there is no hope there, but in the process learns that he loves to dance. As his wife becomes suspicious of a change in his routine and attitude, she learns of his secret lessons and questions the reasons for them and the secrecy. To say more would spoil the plot, and that would be just wrong.I recommend this as a wonderful movie to watch – for young and old, for a great date movie, and even a great Valentine's movie. Just a warning to the male viewers, your woman may visibly swoon at the sight of Mr. Gere in a tuxedo carrying a red rose for his lady. Hard for us normal guys to live up to that image.

This movie is entertaining primarily because of the support cast. The standout is Richard Jenkins (who was nominated for an Academy award for The Visitor). He is in a class by himself here. Bobby Cannavale and Stanley Tucci were also very good but hardly on Jenkins' level. Jennifer Lopez is her usual one dimensional actress self in pale pink everything as an emotionally-injured-princess-in-pain only this time as a dance instructor in, surprise! - ridiculously tight clothes. This movie would have worked with the right excellent support cast (for a very limited actress - Jennifer - in case we need to clarify that).Why the movie does not work at all? Look no further than Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon. Richard is totally miscast in a role which required actual depth as an actor and Susan is just boring and seems to be yawning her way through it. It's like watching Thelma become a the dreaded housewife in Chicago. Richard Jenkins, who was just outstandingly funny as the private detective here, should have had the lead here. He was just hilarious and would actually have made Susan Sarandon much better. He adds so much texture to any of the scenes he is in. I loved the scene in the bar with him and Susan, did not want it to end. I could have watched much more of them and wished the movie went in another direction with the two of them. I do wish however that Susan Sarandon could do a scene that didn't showcase her boobs. I mean, what woman goes to a bar in Chicago with her boobs hanging out like that?The movie could have been so much better with better casting. Richard Gere in particular brings the quality of the other actors down. Susan did not belong in this role either and must have needed the money or something. Without a doubt, the difference between this movie and both The Wedding Planner and Maid in Manhattan (two very enjoyable movies) is the quality of the casting opposite Jennifer Lopez. I mean, let's face the obvious fact that Jennifer Lopez can hardly carry a movie. But with actors of the quality of Matthew McConaughey & Bridgette Wilson-Sampras and Ralph Fiennes & Natasha Richardson, it really worked allowing Jennifer to do her emotionally-injured-princess-in-pain-thing. This movie, however, does not work at all because there are not enough quality actors around Jennifer to make us care about her pain or her pink.