McCarthy Lead a Merry Dance
Jack Pressman (Andrew McCarthy - The National Tree) is not only working hard for a promotion he also happens to be dating Demi (Stephanie Mills), the boss's daughter. The trouble is that Demi's mum is not too subtle when it comes to her opinion of Jack not being from their social class and so not good enough for her precious daughter. Fearing that Demi will leave him for someone younger, richer and from her own social circle he plans to propose but first he has to negotiate her family's Christmas ball which means he needs to learn to dance. It is how he meets Christine (Michelle Nolden) a dance instructor and before long sparks begin to fly between them forcing Jack to make a decision especially when Christine learns she is being evicted from the building where her dance school is due to redevelopment, a redevelopment which Jack happens to be involved with.
I am a huge a fan of Andrew McCarthy ever since I watched him in "St. Elmo's Fire" and as he has aged he has gained this gentle charisma which makes him very easy to watch. But even as a huge fan of McCarthy I do question whether he was right for the lead role in "Come Dance With Me" as he looks his age and that makes the whole relationship with Demi who is a lot younger feel wrong despite McCarthy delivering a typically enjoyable performance. But then maybe McCarthy was right and Stephanie Mills who plays Demi is wrong because Michelle Nolden who plays Christine looks right with him. So basically what I am saying is that there is definitely some casting issues going on in "Come Dance With Me" which was billed as "Christmas Dance" here in the UK.
As for the storyline itself well "Come Dance With Me" is shall we say a typically predictable TV movie which ticks various boxes. For starters we have the entirely predictable romantic storyline as Jack falls for Christine who of course is obviously more suitable for Jack than the younger Demi. But of course we have to have the conflict which is Christine being evicted because of redevelopment and the business Jack works for being involved in that redevelopment. It is all entirely obvious which is frankly what you expect from a made for TV Christmas movie as obvious as those fake snow blankets which rest on the oh so perfect street where Christine's dance studio just happens to be.
But whilst obvious "Come Dance With Me" is also sweet and charming in a simplistic way. It has the right look from that perfect looking streets to the liberal scattering of Christmas decorations and lights which fill the background of many a scene. And it also has the casting well as I said it has casting issues but Andrew McCarthy and Michelle Nolden look right together but totally the opposite when McCarthy is with Stephanie Mills who is certainly more vibrant.
What this all boils down to is that "Come Dance With Me" has some major issues when it comes to the casting but like so many made for TV Christmas movies it is sweet and charming in a completely obvious way.
Tags: TV Christmas Movies, Christmas Movies
