Even a lesser Fred Astaire film is worth watching still, and, like The Belle of New York and Yolanda and the Thief, Let's Dance is one such example of lesser Astaire still being worth a look.
Let's Dance falls down the most in the story, which is particularly weak in the final third where it really does drag and over-caked in overworked sentiment. The subplot itself is one that is easy to identify with, but didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the film and just bogs it down and more interesting could have been done with it. The ending felt incredibly rushed and tacked on, like the writers didn't know how to end it and came up with the most convenient ending possible regardless of whether it made sense compared to the rest of the film.
Personally also didn't care for the Them Dudes routine, the song itself isn't bad but it was in this number where the film betrayed two different performing styles not meshing well with one another, Astaire's more graceful approach with Betty Hutton's brasher, more comedic one. It's also repetitiously choreographed, and while Hutton comes off well the choreography does nothing for Astaire's talents and he doesn't look entirely comfortable doing it.
On the other hand, as aforementioned, Let's Dance is by no means a bad film. It's shot in nice Technicolor, and has some beautiful costumes and sets. The score is musical and energetic, and the songs, while none of them classics, are more than pleasant, Jack and the Beanstalk and Tunnel of Love have a lot of charm. Choreographically, the highlight is the Piano Dance, not spectacular but still entertaining and inspired and shows off Astaire's skills more than the rest of the songs. Jack and the Beanstalk comes off very attractively as well.
The script is witty, allowing for some genuinely amusing moments, and well-intended, and the two-thirds of the film have a decent amount of energy. It's directed reasonably neatly, until flagging in the final third, and the performances generally come off well, though Hutton and Astaire(while hardly disastrous) don't match as well as some of Astaire's other partners and there could have been more of Astaire and a little less of Hutton. The supporting turns are solid, with some funny comic turns and a splendidly stern Lucille Watson. Astaire is as graceful and charming as ever, and Hutton really does look like she's enjoying herself, her 'mugging' being nowhere near as painful as it could have been.
All in all, lesser Astaire but has enough strengths to get a partial recommendation. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Let's Dance falls down the most in the story, which is particularly weak in the final third where it really does drag and over-caked in overworked sentiment. The subplot itself is one that is easy to identify with, but didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the film and just bogs it down and more interesting could have been done with it. The ending felt incredibly rushed and tacked on, like the writers didn't know how to end it and came up with the most convenient ending possible regardless of whether it made sense compared to the rest of the film.
Personally also didn't care for the Them Dudes routine, the song itself isn't bad but it was in this number where the film betrayed two different performing styles not meshing well with one another, Astaire's more graceful approach with Betty Hutton's brasher, more comedic one. It's also repetitiously choreographed, and while Hutton comes off well the choreography does nothing for Astaire's talents and he doesn't look entirely comfortable doing it.
On the other hand, as aforementioned, Let's Dance is by no means a bad film. It's shot in nice Technicolor, and has some beautiful costumes and sets. The score is musical and energetic, and the songs, while none of them classics, are more than pleasant, Jack and the Beanstalk and Tunnel of Love have a lot of charm. Choreographically, the highlight is the Piano Dance, not spectacular but still entertaining and inspired and shows off Astaire's skills more than the rest of the songs. Jack and the Beanstalk comes off very attractively as well.
The script is witty, allowing for some genuinely amusing moments, and well-intended, and the two-thirds of the film have a decent amount of energy. It's directed reasonably neatly, until flagging in the final third, and the performances generally come off well, though Hutton and Astaire(while hardly disastrous) don't match as well as some of Astaire's other partners and there could have been more of Astaire and a little less of Hutton. The supporting turns are solid, with some funny comic turns and a splendidly stern Lucille Watson. Astaire is as graceful and charming as ever, and Hutton really does look like she's enjoying herself, her 'mugging' being nowhere near as painful as it could have been.
All in all, lesser Astaire but has enough strengths to get a partial recommendation. 6/10 Bethany Cox