Normally, when a movie like this comes out, it’s filled to the brim with your standard, run-of-the-mill movie clichés. This movie is no exception. It has your clichéd students in detention, the clichéd feeling that they’re never going to accomplish anything, and the clichéd teacher who wants to give them something to hope for. “Take the Lead” takes all of those clichés, however, and tells a fun story that makes you forget about everything I just said.

“Take the Lead” is based off a true story and stars Antonio Banderas as real-life dance teacher Pierre Dulaine, who comes to the school to offer his services for free. At first, he’s met with ridicule, not only from the students that he is going to teach, but also from the faculty. He takes this with a grain of salt, however, and tries his very best to light a fire underneath his new charges and teach them ballroom dancing. The first few days don’t go so well, however, and he is quickly ignored.

This is the point in the movie here you realize, “Hey, Whitebear was right. This movie is full of clichés!” A smile will no doubt slither across your face once the movie starts to take off, since it is very hard to not enjoy what you’re seeing. The movie takes off once Pierre realizes that all he needs to do to inspire his students is to show them how awesome ballroom dancing can look. He gets one of his students from his dancing academy, and dances the tango with her, which surprises the ladies and “inspires” the guys to give this stuff a chance.

Antonio Banderas gives a great performance, as well as the kids he performs with. Even though it’s slightly obvious that these are no high school kids, they still put on a convincing acting job, so you quickly forget about the small details like that. The dancing is clearly the highlight of the movie, which is good, since what would a dancing movie be without dancing? These kids definitely know how to move, incorporating their own dance moves with the Tango, Foxtrot, and other familiar dances of ages past. The music is also great, full of great beats and danceable tracks, thanks in part to Swizz Beats, who helped make some of the music.

Basically, if you’re looking for a movie that’ll have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face, or a bounce in your step, then boogie on with “Take the Lead.”