The Movie Room

Picture 3.5*
Sound 3.5*
Film 3.0*

Lawyer John Clark isn't unhappy. He has a loving wife and family, and, from all appearances, a lucrative if somewhat dull career. Commuting home from work one evening, he spots a woman standing wistfully in the window of a ballroom dancing school. Before you know it, and for reasons even he can't fully explain (maybe J Lo had something to do with it), he signs up for lessons.

Released just in time for Valentine's Day (natch), Shall We Dance? is a charming romantic comedy in a year not particularly blessed with good romantic comedies for and about adults. It's not an exceptional film, but it still manages to push all the right buttons. It helps that it's an original idea-even if that idea came from a recent Japanese film with the same title and plot. I haven't seen the latter, but based on my experience with this one, I intend to.

It also helps that the American version has an appealing cast. Richard Gere continues a career comeback that began with Chicago, Jennifer Lopez hasn't made a better film since her Selena and Out of Sight days, and Susan Sarandon, while relegated here to only a few (though crucial) scenes, doesn't disappoint.

Technically, there's nothing spectacular here. I did not see this film theatrically, but I can't imagine that it looked or sounded better in any movie house than it does on DVD (at least with a good home theater system). The images are clean and free of noise, the colors are bright and vivid (especially during the dance contest-you did expect a dance contest, didn't you?), and the picture is free of annoying edge enhancement or artifacts. There are few sound effects, and little unusual in the way of surround activity or deep bass, but the dialog and music are crisply recorded.

The extras aren't extensive, but more than generous for a single-disc release. There are deleted scenes, three featurettes, a music video, and a commentary by director Peter Chelsom.

Shall We Dance? isn't a great film. But it's warm-hearted, accessible, and funny. For Valentine's week, or any other week, that makes it way better than good enough.