Fantasia '19 Film Review - Dance With Me

Shizuka Suzuki (Ayaka Miyoshi) is a salary woman working at leading financial firm Yotsuba Holdings. Shizuka and her three friends barely touch their lunches, walk back from break armed with Venti Starbuck beverages and all fawn over dreamy young executive Mr. Murakami (Takahiro Miura) who has a sudden opening on his team that they are all vying to fill. Shizuka by chance gets a rush assignment for Murakami her work interrupted by her sister and niece but she manages to complete the project. With some free time, she takes her niece to Fortune Land where they encounter slippery hypnotist Martyn Ueda (Akira Takarada) whose spell to help her niece lands on Shizuki. Now she is compelled to break out into Dance and Song whenever she hears music. Not a good trait for a mid- level salary woman trying to advance her career.

Writer-Director Shinobu Yaguchi takes shots at the conservative corporate ladder climbers and pre conceived notions with the film. He shows the employee's morning rush into the corporation like ants, swiping their passcards and filling the elevators shoulder to shoulder. Instead, he emphasizes the opposite message of being be true to yourself and do something to follow you passion.

Shizuka's awkward performance helps Murakami to land a deal leading him to offer her a position on his team. Shizuki accepts but wants a week to track down Martyn who has disappeared from the park taking his show on the road while he tries to keep one step ahead of loan sharks. She is accompanied on her search by Chi (Yu Yashiro) Martyn former roper who was swindled by the con man herself. The pair are total opposites Chi free and easy to rigid Shizuki who comes slowly out of her shell as the trip progresses. Look for a road rage encounter with a pair of gang members that solidly drives home the director's theme of preconceived notions.

Dance with Me is a feel-good piece that will have audiences tapping their toes as they rock in their seats to the musical numbers. The story is straight forward but full of valuable lessons that are helpful to both young and older moviegoers. The ensemble cast do not make a wrong step and the closing Bollywoodesque number that brings all of the main characters together as the credits roll will put a smile on your face that will remain there for your entire trip home from the theatre.

*** Out of 4.

Dance With Me | Shinobu Yaguchi | Japan| 2019 | 103 Minutes.

Tags: Hypnotism, Rat Race, Musical, Road Trip, Sapporo, Stage Fright, Dance Off, Wedding Crashers, Psycho Ex, Mood Ring, Aura.